Chapter 15. Tropical Weather Noon sun is always high, seasonal temperature changes small Daily...
-
Upload
christina-barker -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Chapter 15. Tropical Weather Noon sun is always high, seasonal temperature changes small Daily...
Tropical Weather
Noon sun is always high, seasonal temperature changes small
Daily heating and humidity = cumulus clouds and afternoon thunderstorms
Non-squall clusters, tropical squall line, tropical wave
Seasons defined by precipitation as opposed to temperature
Anatomy of a Hurricane
Intense storm of tropical origin with winds greater than 64kts; typhoon, cyclone, tropical cyclone
Eye Eye wall Spiral rain band Anticyclonic divergence Latent heat
Hurricane Formation and Dissipation The Right Environment
Tropical waters with light wind26.5°C sea surface temperatures (June-
November)Surface converge trigger (tropical wave)Coriolis effect: 5-20º latitude
The Developing StormCluster of thunderstorms around a rotating
Low pressureRelease of latent heat, divergence aloft
Hurricane Formation and Dissipation The Storm Dies Out
Cold water, land
Hurricane Stages of DevelopmentTropical DisturbanceTropical Depression (22-34kts)Tropical Storm (35-64kts)Hurricane (> 65kts)
Hurricane Formation and Dissipation Topic: Hurricanes and Mid-latitude
StormsHurricane warm core lowMid-latitude cold-core lowArctic hurricanesHurricane + upper level trough = mid-
latitude cyclone Hurricane movement
General track: west, northwest, northeastMuch variation
Naming Hurricane and Tropical Storms Process has changed over the years:
Latitude and longitudeLetters of the alphabetAlphabetical female namesAlphabetical, alternating female and male
namesRetirement (Katrina, Camille)
Devastating Wind, Storm Surge, and Flooding Highest winds on the eastern side of
storm (wind + speed of storm) Swell Storm surge on north side of storm (tide) Coastal flooding River flooding Hurricane spawned tornadoes Saffir-Simpson scale
1 weakest, 5 strongest
Some Notable Storms Observation: Atlantic Hurricanes 2004-
2005Abnormally warm ocean water and weak
vertical sheer allowed for high frequency of hurricanes
Environmental Issue: Hurricanes in a Warmer WorldNo clear answer, need more dataIntensity and frequency most likely to be
impacted.
Hurricane Watches, Warnings, and Forecasts Watch issued 24-48 hours before
hurricane expected to make landfall Warning issued when storm expected to
strike coast within 24 hours and probability of strike in a given location provided.