EPSC 185 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough, Tropical Cyclone, Wind Shear
2 Apr 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Tropical cyclone: warm-core, low pressure system without any front attached, that develops over the tropical or subtropical waters, with an organized circulation. Because of the lack of sufficient coriolis force (force that causes the hurricanes to spin) What causes the initial disturbance of hurricanes to form: easterly waves: regions of thunderstorms and low pressure areas moving from e w. Thunderstorms forming on the convergent side (to the east) have the potential to organize into hurricanes due to the presence of much moisture in the air: west african disturbance line (wadl): line of convection which forms over west. Once a disturbance forms and sustained convection develops, it can become more organized under certain conditions (mentioned at beginning of text). Ex: if the disturbance remains or moves over warm water (27 degrees c) and the vertical wind shear is weak, the disturbance can become more organized and form a depression. Most important key of hurricanes: warm water: this powers the hurricane.
