Hurricanes (AKA: Typhoons, Cyclones) Before Lab: Review pages 328-361 in your We

Question

Hurricanes (AKA: Typhoons, Cyclones) Before Lab: Review pages 328-361 in your Weather and Climate textbook. Please pay special attention to the sections entitled: "Hurricanes around the Globe: The Tropical Setting", "Hurricane Characteristics", "Hurricane Structure", and "Hurricane Movement and Dissipation". You may also elect to consult the National Hurricane Center through their website: www.nhc.noaa.gov where you can find information on particular storms, specific weather observations and imagery as well as forecasts and advisories. Summary: This lab focuses on tropical systems. This lab exercise supports building your understanding of the tropical systems including: ingredients for formation, development, and impacts. LAB EXERCISE Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Ocean Basin begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Given that evaporation provides fuel for tropical systems, how does this fuel source help you make sense of when storms form and where (see Figure 7-1) they form? (Consult Figure 12-2 in your textbook). Figure 7-1: Tropical Storm Source Regions (source: NASA.gov)

Explanation / Answer

Hurricanes are very strong low pressure areas which form over warm ocean waters during summer and early fall. The Sun's energy warms ocean water, evaporation occur and creates water vapor.

Water vapor is the fuel for the hurricanes because it releases the "latent heat of condensation" when this water vapor condenses to form clouds and rain and so warming the adjacent air and it helps to fuel the storms. This heat energy was absorbed during the evaporation from the warm ocean surface.

So hurricanes need warm and moist air as fuel. So the main factor required for the formation of hurricane is warm ocean water. Wind is another important parameter as wind blows over the ocean surface; water evaporates and rises.

The intensity of hurricane depends on the amount of water vapor and strength of wind shear. The amount of water vapor evaporated depends on sea surface temperature and wind strength. Sea surface temperature and wind strength depends on the location and time of hurricane formation. Ultimately the strength of hurricane or its fuel source depends upon the location and period it formed.

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