GEO 207 Lecture 4: hurricane notes
Document Summary
Hurricanes: huge low pressure cyclonic storms, winds exceed 119 km/hr. (74 mph, seasonal, summer and late fall, from tropical atlantic. Surrounding air flows inward to replace rising air in a low pressure system. Air is pushed outward and away when cool air sinks in a high pressure system. Circulation within hadley cells: rising air at the equator creates low pressure, airflow is deflected to the west: coriolis, rising air cools, moisture is lost as rain, this winds are what help drive these storms, need this rotation. Form near the equator: hurricane: when formed in the atlantic ocean, cyclone: when formed in indian ocean, typhoon: when formed in western pacific ocean. Requirements for hurricane development: need really warm ocean water, ocean water > 27 degrees c, warm, humid, unstable air, weak upper-level winds. Tropical disturbance: low pressure zone, cluster of thunderstorms, wewak surface winds, surface winds coverage, air rises, cools and condenses.
