Hurricanes

4 Pages 969 Words

What is a hurricane? Hurricanes are tropical cyclones with winds that exceed 64 knots (74 mi/hr) and circulate counter-clockwise about their centers in the Northern Hemisphere (clockwise in the southern hemisphere). They are formed from simple complexes of thunderstorms. Hurricanes only form from these thunderstorms with the cooperation from both the ocean and the atmosphere. The ocean water itself has to be 26.5 degrees Celsius or warmer. The ultimate source of energy for a hurricane comes from the heat and moisture from the warm water of the ocean. When a hurricane travels over land or colder ocean waters, or any location with insufficient heat and/or moisture, it will weaken rapidly. Not only does there have to be warm ocean water but high relative humidities in the lower and middle troposphere for the development of a hurricane. The high humidities reduce the amount of evaporation in clouds and maximizes the latent heat released because there is more precipitation. The concentration of latent heat is critical to driving the system.
There are many thunderstorm cells within one hurricane. They have different strengths, and will cause downpours, hail, tornadoes, severe lightning, and flooding. This is especially found in the eye wall where the storm has the most force. However when the storm's eye passes land the wind and rain stop and things are quiet for a bit till the second half of the storm comes.
How should you prepare for a hurricane? You should heed the warning, first of all. Plan ahead where you would go and have the phone numbers of these places with you. Have a road map in case the weather forces you onto unfamiliar roads. Do not drive over standing water, as floods may have damaged the roads and you don’t know how deep the water really is. If you are in the path of a land-falling hurricane, you should prepare a supply kit containing: a first aid kit and necessary medications. Canned food and an opener. Plenty...