Tropical Storms Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

What physical conditions are needed for a tropical storm to form?

Sea temperatures above 26–27 °C down to a depth of about 50 m, a latitude of 5°–30° north or south (so the Coriolis effect can make the storm spin), and unstable, converging air.

Where in the world do tropical storms form, and what are they called in different regions?

In a belt between about 5° and 30° north and south of the Equator, over oceans above 27 °C: hurricanes (Caribbean/Atlantic), typhoons (western Pacific) and cyclones (Indian Ocean/Bay of Bengal).

On a satellite image of a tropical storm, what is the eye and how can you recognise it?

The clear, cloud-free circle at the centre; air is sinking there, so it is calm, dry and has the lowest pressure.

What is the eyewall of a tropical storm?

The bank of towering cloud surrounding the eye, where air rises most rapidly — it has the strongest winds and torrential rain.

How might climate change affect tropical storms?

Higher sea temperatures make storms more intense; more oceans above 27 °C means their distribution spreads further from the Equator and the storm season becomes longer.

True or false? Tropical storms develop along the Equator itself.

False. They form roughly 5°–30° north and south of the Equator, as the Coriolis effect is too weak at the Equator to make the storm spin.