HurricanesHurricanes

Brice LockardBrice Lockard

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What is a Hurricane?What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a collection of water vapor/winds A hurricane is a collection of water vapor/winds spinning around a low pressure zone. You may spinning around a low pressure zone. You may have heard of tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons have heard of tornadoes, cyclones, typhoons and monsoons, but do not confuse them as and monsoons, but do not confuse them as being the same thing as a hurricane. being the same thing as a hurricane. Cyclones Cyclones are storms in the Indian ocean and the south west are storms in the Indian ocean and the south west pacific. If they are not from that region they cannot pacific. If they are not from that region they cannot be named a cyclone. Tornadoes are smaller than be named a cyclone. Tornadoes are smaller than hurricanes and are started over land. Whereas the hurricanes and are started over land. Whereas the hurricane is started over the Atlantic sea. hurricane is started over the Atlantic sea.

How does heat have to do How does heat have to do with the pressure of a with the pressure of a

hurricane?hurricane? Warm air, being less dense, weighs less Warm air, being less dense, weighs less

meaning the atmospheric pressure in the meaning the atmospheric pressure in the center of the storm drops. Into this low center of the storm drops. Into this low pressure region the air starts to swirl in a pressure region the air starts to swirl in a counter clockwise direction. In other counter clockwise direction. In other words low pressure is the fuse to a words low pressure is the fuse to a hurricane.hurricane.

Why is there rain in a Why is there rain in a hurricane?hurricane?

As I said in the last slide, winds swirl around As I said in the last slide, winds swirl around the low pressure spot soon to become the the low pressure spot soon to become the eye of the hurricane. These winds drag up eye of the hurricane. These winds drag up enormous waves. The vapors from the warm enormous waves. The vapors from the warm waves rises up in the updrafts through giant waves rises up in the updrafts through giant thunder clouds called hot towers. As the air thunder clouds called hot towers. As the air in the hot towers cools the vapor condenses in the hot towers cools the vapor condenses into rain. The hot towers do the work in a into rain. The hot towers do the work in a hurricane heat engine. hurricane heat engine.

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Hot Towers

Why do hurricanes form over Why do hurricanes form over water in the summer?water in the summer?

During the hot summer sun, the Atlantic During the hot summer sun, the Atlantic ocean warms up, causing the water to ocean warms up, causing the water to evaporate. In order for a hurricane to evaporate. In order for a hurricane to start, it needs waters exceeding 80ºF. start, it needs waters exceeding 80ºF. Warm ocean water provides energy for the Warm ocean water provides energy for the hurricane and causes more evaporation hurricane and causes more evaporation making humid air and clouds. making humid air and clouds.

What does a hurricane need What does a hurricane need to develop and grow?to develop and grow?

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Why does a hurricane weaken Why does a hurricane weaken over land?over land?

Water vapor is the fuel of the engine, as Water vapor is the fuel of the engine, as gas is the fuel of a car. Without gas the gas is the fuel of a car. Without gas the car will not move. It is the same concept car will not move. It is the same concept when talking about a hurricane. Without when talking about a hurricane. Without vapor the hurricane will weaken until there vapor the hurricane will weaken until there is no more hurricane left. This is why is no more hurricane left. This is why there are no hurricanes in the middle of there are no hurricanes in the middle of the United States of America.the United States of America.

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SitesSites

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080910011330AA3DGts0080910011330AA3DGts

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/hurricane1.htmhttp://www.weatherwizkids.com/hurricane1.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Gfaw3s1Lkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Gfaw3s1Lk http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htmhttp://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/

hurr/home.rxmlhurr/home.rxml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/http://www.miamisci.org/hurricane/