Storms And Hurricanes

Front 1

acceleration

Back 1

change in velocity during time interval
-velocity has speed and direction
-force = mass x acceleration

Front 2

Bouyancy force

Back 2

verticle
-cause up and downdrafts
-warm air rises

Front 3

Pressure gradient force and temp

Back 3

horizontal
- pressure drives winds
-warmer air expands - molecules farther apart pressure decreases more slowly with height

Front 4

Bouyancy

Back 4

of an an air parcel depends on difference between parcel temp and temp of surrounding air

Front 5

warm air and density

Back 5

warm air is less dense (molecules farther part) upward bouyant force
-colder air more dense and sinks
-latent heat warms tstorms air making it bouyant and rise

Front 6

Pressure Gradients forming Hurricane

Back 6

condensation in tstorms makes makes core warmed
-warm air in core air expands and less dense than cool taking up more space
-pressure at top of core to be greater than surrounding
-horizontal pressure gradient at top creates spiraling winds
-lowers pressure at bottom for air to be sucked in

Front 7

continuity

Back 7

links vericle and horizontal winds in circulation
-air molecules spread smoothly and venely
-dont leave gaps - more air comes in to replace it
-bouyant air parcels rise leaves whole
-> surrounding air sucked in to fill whole
- air above rising parcel is compressed with higehr pressure and expands horizontally

Front 8

Hurricane formation

Back 8

1) low pressure in eyes sucks in boundry layer air
2) as air gets closer to eyes moves faster creating larger ocean waves
3) evaporation from ocean surfaces is enhanced by spray from waves addiing mositure to air
5) air is finally now wamr, very humid and contais much latent and sensible heat

Front 9

Hurricane formation requirments (2)

Back 9

1) ocean surface temps > 26 C
2) warm surface waters are > 60m deep

Front 10

Favored Formation Latitudes

Back 10

right above and below equator
- both warm and non zero corolis (earth roation effect)

Front 11

Storm Surge

Back 11

strong winds drag ocean water, raises sea level and causes water to pile up against sshore

Front 12

Trade winds

Back 12

low latitudes
-move west

Front 13

Bermuda High

Back 13

high pressure zone
-depends if its high or low

Front 14

Thunderstorm Fuel

Back 14

-sunlight heats ground- heats air
- sensible heat in air makes air warmer
-latent heat into air -humidity
=both fuel storm

Front 15

Mesocyclone

Back 15

when entire thunderstorm roatest and spawns tornados
-helps to maintain flow of energy of storm bc feeds updraft with humid air
-wall cloud develps below it

Front 16

cumulus stage

Back 16

condensation when air rises b/c it cools
-releases latent heat which wamrs iar in cloud
-updraft grows with more latent heat

Front 17

disipating stage

Back 17

downdraft spreads out and cuts off sorms supply of air
-colder temps inside

Front 18

radar loop

Back 18

by tracking past movement of storm on radar can warn ppl in paths up to 15 min in future

Front 19

sequence of events -storms

Back 19

anvil, gust front, lightning, downpours, tornado

Front 20

adiabatic cooling

Back 20

when air rises it cools
-some vapor must conesne into liquid drops
-release of latent heat

Front 21

enhanced fujita scale

Back 21

storm scaled intensity
-determined by amount of damage to buildings