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HURRICANE

hurricanes

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HURRICANE

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  1. HURRICANE

  2. Structure of Hurricanes • Formation and Development • Lifecycle of a Hurricane • Categories of Hurricanes • Impacts of Hurricanes • Preparedness and Safety Measures

  3. WHAT IS HURRICANE • A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rains. Hurricanes are classified by their maximum sustained winds and can cause severe damage through high winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges.

  4. Structure of a Hurricane • Eye: The calm center of the storm, where the skies are often clear and winds are light. • Eye Wall: Surrounding the eye, this is where the most severe weather of the hurricane occurs, with the strongest winds and heaviest rain. • Rainbands: Bands of heavy rain and thunderstorms that spiral outward from the eye wall.

  5. Formation and Development • Warm Ocean Waters: Hurricanes typically form over warm ocean waters near the equator. The sea surface temperature needs to be at least 26.5°C (80°F) to a depth of about 50 meters (164 feet). • Moisture and Heat: The warm ocean water heats the air above it, causing it to rise. As the air rises, it cools and condenses into clouds and thunderstorms, releasing latent heat. This heat warms the surrounding air, causing it to rise further and lowering the surface pressure. • Low-Pressure Center: The continuous rising of warm air and the release of heat create a low-pressure center. Air from surrounding areas with higher pressure pushes into the low-pressure area, warming up and rising as it does so. This creates a cycle of rising warm air and falling pressure. • Rotation: The Coriolis effect, due to the Earth's rotation, causes the incoming air to spin, resulting in the cyclonic motion of the hurricane. In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes spin counterclockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they spin clockwise.

  6. Lifecycle of a Hurricane

  7. Tropical Disturbance: A cluster of thunderstorms over warm ocean waters that shows signs of organized circulation. • Tropical Depression: When the system's maximum sustained winds reach 38 mph (62 km/h) or less, it is classified as a tropical depression. • Tropical Storm: When the maximum sustained winds reach 39-73 mph (63-118 km/h), the system becomes a tropical storm and is given a name. • Hurricane: When the maximum sustained winds exceed 74 mph (119 km/h), the storm is classified as a hurricane.

  8. Categories of Hurricanes • Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale: • Category 1: Wind speeds of 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h). Minimal damage. • Category 2: Wind speeds of 96-110 mph (154-177 km/h). Moderate damage. • Category 3: Wind speeds of 111-129 mph (178-208 km/h). Extensive damage. • Category 4: Wind speeds of 130-156 mph (209-251 km/h). Extreme damage. • Category 5: Wind speeds of 157 mph (252 km/h) or higher. Catastrophic damage.

  9. Impacts of Hurricanes

  10. Wind Damage: High winds can destroy buildings, uproot trees, and cause widespread power outages. The intensity of the wind can strip away roofs, break windows, and toss debris, creating dangerous conditions. • Storm Surge: The storm surge is a rise in sea level due to the hurricane's winds pushing water onshore. This can lead to severe coastal flooding, erosion, and destruction of coastal infrastructure. • Heavy Rainfall and Flooding: Hurricanes can produce extremely heavy rainfall, leading to freshwater flooding far inland from the coast. This can cause rivers to overflow, landslides, and severe flooding in urban and rural areas. • Tornadoes: Hurricanes can spawn tornadoes, which add to the destructive power of the storm. These are most common in the right-front quadrant of the storm.

  11. Preparedness and Safety Measures

  12. Evacuation Plans: Have a clear evacuation plan, including knowing the nearest evacuation routes and shelters. Follow local authorities' instructions regarding evacuations. • Emergency Kit: Prepare an emergency kit with essential supplies such as water, non-perishable food, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, and cash. • Home Protection: Protect your home by boarding up windows, securing loose items outside, and reinforcing garage doors. Ensure that trees and shrubs around your home are well-trimmed. • Stay Informed: Monitor weather updates and alerts from reliable sources such as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and local meteorological services. • Insurance: Ensure you have adequate insurance coverage, including flood insurance, as standard homeowner's insurance policies often do not cover flood damage.

  13. Thank you!

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