Storms. Tropical Cyclone?

Transcription

1 Storms Tropical Cyclone? Tropical Cyclone: low pressure storm forming in the tropics (Start as Thunder Storms). They form around a center, producing heavy winds and rains.

2 Storms

3 What strengthens a Tropical Cyclone? Warm ocean waters strengthen the storms What reduces the storms? Land slows the winds (friction) (rollerblading onto grass) Land reduces the water ( rains out) Cold water (less evaporation)

4 Tropical Cyclone stages Stages of a Tropical Cyclone? Tropical Depression Tropical cyclone with winds under 38 mph. Starts to spin, no set eye.

5 Storms Tropical Storm? Tropical Storm: Tropical Cyclone with winds between mph. Storm creates an eye and rain bands. (Gets named) Eye? Eye: center of cyclone, clear skies and low winds. (deceives people storm is over) Eye wall? Eye wall: Around the eye, fastest winds, hardest rain. Rainbands? Rainband: long band of very heavy rain

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9 Hurricane Hurricane? Hurricane: Tropical Cyclone with winds over 74 mph. Heavy rain, winds and storm surge. (Very Low Pressure) (Start in Atlantic Ocean) Can be 600 miles wide Biggest most powerful storms on Earth (overall most devastation) equal to ½ million small atomic bombs a day Storm Surge? Storm surge Large rise of water due to low pressure and winds pushing in. (responsible for most deaths)

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12 How are hurricanes categorized? Saffir-Simpson Scale Category 1 5 depending on wind speed. Fastest ever ~ 210 When do Hurricanes occur? Hurricane season June 1 November 30 th (summer/fall) Summer heats the ocean (Fall is still warm because H20 needs time to cool) each storm lasts about 1 week season (with Katrina went until following January

13 Hurricanes How are Hurricanes named? Hurricane names alternate male / female in alphabetical order. In 2005 Hurricanes moved into Greek Alphabet What happens to the name if a major hurricane hits? Major Hurricanes names are retired (Sandy) What is the difference between Hurricanes and Typhoons? In other oceans, Hurricanes are called: Typhoons, Cyclones, etc. Are Hurricanes exactly the same in the S. Hemisphere? In the Southern Hemisphere they spin clockwise.

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15 What should you do if a Hurricane is coming? Best protection from a Hurricane is to evacuate. Otherwise: Stay inside Away from windows Have safety preparation kit (ex. Water, radio, first aid)

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18 Hurricane formation Footage Storm Surge

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23 Storms What are Tornados? Tornados: violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground Fastest storms on Earth. Most damaging storm to where it hits

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26 How do Tornadoes form? Tornadoes form when a horizontal spinning column of air in a Thunderstorm (hail updraft) tilts vertically towards the ground. Start of a tornado? Funnel clouds: the initial drop down of a tornado When do you have a tornado? Tornadoes start when the air touches down.

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28 Why are Tornados dark? Tornado colors just reflect the debris that it has picked up.

29 Fire Whirl Water Spout

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31 Tornado stages? Organize Mature Shrink Decay

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33 How are Tornadoes categorized? Tornadoes are ranked on Fujita or Enhanced Fujita scale (F-scale, EF-scale) (EF 0-5)

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35 When do they happen? Tornadoes can happen anywhere at anytime. All that is needed is a strong swirling thunder storm. (Super cell) When do they happen most? Tornado season is April June (Spring) Mid-afternoon (lots of heat)

36 Where do they happen most? Most Tornadoes happen in central U.S. (tornado alley ~800/year) Why are most tornadoes in the central U.S.? Warm wet air from the Gulf crashes into cold dry air from the Rockies causing strong thunderstorms. Many turn into Tornadoes.

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38 What is the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Warning? Watch? Watch: conditions are right. Warning? (old man watching from chair ) Warning: One has been spotted or seen on radar. (Old man Warns his wife)

39 Things to look for? Watch for rotating clouds, wind shift, loud rumble, hail & funnel clouds Preparation. Tornadoes throw objects at high speeds. Get Low: (ex. Basement, ditch, etc) Duck and cover

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41 How they form Joplin Tornado

42 What is a Blizzard? A Blizzard is a snow storm with Strong Winds. Get inside, have supplies, watch for drifts (snow piles) & white outs (no visibility).

43 Bread and milk

44 Nor easter Nor easters? 1&sk=#view=detail&mid=2F692F42047AD1EF3D7F2F692F42047AD1EF3D7F Nor easters are named because the winds rotate back around and hits us FROM the North East. Cold air with lots of moisture (can be a big snow storm)

45 What is a Monsoon? A Monsoon is a seasonal shift in winds. (ex India: winter winds come from the N (dry season) summer winds come from the S (wet season)

46 What is an El Nino? El Nino: ocean currents warm, causing a warmer atmosphere. (Named the boy: after Jesus, because they occur around the end of December. Water should be cold in winter but it is warmer than normal) La Nina: ocean current cool, causing a cooler atmosphere. (Also in N. Hemisphere Winter) They both change global wind patterns and weather. Areas of little rain get floods, areas that typically get rain become dry.