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hurricanes

Chapter 15. hurricanes. 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.

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hurricanes

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  1. Chapter 15 hurricanes

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Hurricane Formation and Dissipation • The Right Environment • Tropical waters with light wind • 26.5°C sea surface temperatures (June-November) • Surface converge trigger (tropical wave) • Coriolis effect: 5-20º latitude • The Developing Storm • Cluster of thunderstorms around a rotating Low pressure • Release of latent heat, divergence aloft

  5. Hurricane Formation and Dissipation • The Storm Dies Out • Cold water, land • Hurricane Stages of Development • Tropical Disturbance • Tropical Depression (22-34kts) • Tropical Storm (35-64kts) • Hurricane (> 65kts)

  6. Hurricane Formation and Dissipation • Topic: Hurricanes and Mid-latitude Storms • Hurricane warm core low • Mid-latitude cold-core low • Arctic hurricanes • Hurricane + upper level trough = mid-latitude cyclone • Hurricane movement • General track: west, northwest, northeast • Much variation

  7. Stepped Art Fig. 15-12, p. 421

  8. Naming Hurricane and Tropical Storms • Process has changed over the years: • Latitude and longitude • Letters of the alphabet • Alphabetical female names • Alphabetical, alternating female and male names • Retirement (Katrina, Camille)

  9. 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

  10. Some Notable Storms • Camille 1969 • Hugo 1989 • Andrew 1992 • Ivan 2004 • Katrina 2005

  11. Some Notable Storms • Observation: Atlantic Hurricanes 2004-2005 • Abnormally warm ocean water and weak vertical sheer allowed for high frequency of hurricanes • Environmental Issue: Hurricanes in a Warmer World • No clear answer, need more data • Intensity and frequency most likely to be impacted.

  12. 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.

  13. Stepped Art Fig. 15-27, p. 433

  14. Modifying Hurricanes • Operation STORMFURY: seed clouds to create rain, weaken hurricane, and reduce winds; no conclusive evidence it was effective • Oil or film on water to reduce evaporation and latent heat available to storms

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