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Weather Occurrences

Weather Occurrences. By: Anna McIntyre. Tsunami. Tsunami is defined as a series of giant, long ocean waves (10 or more) created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite.

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Weather Occurrences

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  1. Weather Occurrences By: Anna McIntyre

  2. Tsunami • Tsunami is defined as a series of giant, long ocean waves (10 or more) created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. • A tsunami can move hundreds of miles per hour in the open ocean and smash into land with waves as high as 100 feet or more. • Far out in the ocean tsunami waves don’t get very high, but they move fast (as fast as a jet plane) • As a tsunami gets closer to land and the ocean depth decreases, the speed of the wave slows down and the height of the wave increases dramatically, along with its potential for destruction. • The first wave of a tsunami is usually the largest. • Tsunami is from the Japanese word for “harbour wave”. • Tsunami waves may damage both structural and nonstructural elements within the built environment.

  3. Hurricane Hurricane is defined as a severe tropical cyclone having winds greater than 74 MPH, originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea or eastern regions of the Pacific Ocean, traveling north, northwest from its point of origin, and usually involving heavy rains. • Hurricanes have male and female names • Hurricanes need warm, moist air. They usually begin in late summer or early fall • The “eye” (center) of a hurricane can be up to 20 miles across . The weather in the eye is calm with low winds and clear skies • A hurricane weakens rapidly after it strikes land • For a hurricane to survive, the water temperature must be at least 75-80 degrees F and the surface winds must converge • A hurricane’s high winds may spawn tornadoes, rains cause further damage by flooding

  4. The intensity of a hurricane is measured on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. This scale measures the wind speed and air pressure of the storm. Based on these characteristics, a hurricane is ranked with a number between 1 and 5.

  5. Tornado • A tornado is defined as a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground. • Tornados are also called twisters. Tornados are described as a violent whirling wind usually accompanied with severe thunder, lightening, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth • Tornados are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 250 mph or more • Waterspouts are weak tornados that form over warm water • Signs of a tornado include a dark, often greenish sky, a Wall cloud, large hail, and a large roar similar to a freight train • A rotating wall cloud is the area of the thunderstorm that is most likely to produce a tornado

  6. Tornado intensity and damage is measured by Fujita scale (F-Scale).

  7. Flood Flood is defined as a great flowing or overflowing of water, especially over land not usually submerged. Hurricanes, winter storms and snowmelt are common causes of flooding. New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths, There are few places on Earth where people need not be concerned about flooding. Any place where rain falls is vulnerable. Floods occur when water overflows land that is normally dry. This can happen when rivers or streams overflow, from excessive rain, a ruptured dam, and rapid ice melting, Coastal flooding occurs when a large storm or tsunami causes the sea to surge inland. Most floods take hours or days to develop which gives people time to prepare or evacuate. The massive force of moving water can drag dirt from under a building’s foundation causing it to crack and tumble.

  8. Drought Drought is defined as a long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that negatively affects growing or living conditions. Droughts seriousness depends on the degree of the water shortage, size of area affected, and the duration and warmth of the dry period. If a drought period is short, it is known as a dry spell. A dry spell is more than 14 days without precipitation, a severe drought may last for years. Because droughts are slow to develop they are known to be very costly to the region that is affected. Droughts are very hard to predict.

  9. Four types of drought • Meteorological-Most locations around the world have their own meteorological definition of drought based on the climate normal and amount of precipitation in the area. • Hydrological-Lack of water in river systems and reservoirs can impact hydroelectric power companies, farmers, wildlife, and communities. • Agricultural-Shortages in precipitation and reduced ground water levels can create stress and problems for crops. • Socioeconomic-Occurs when the demand for an economic good exceeds supply as a result of a weather related shortfall in water supply.

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