Hurricanes
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Last updated about 1 year ago
14 questions
Note from the author:
This is a basic lesson about hurricanes done after we have done basic weather types and before our final project (building a hurricane proof house) for the unit.
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1
How fast do winds have to be to make a storm a hurricane
How fast do winds have to be to make a storm a hurricane
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1
What kind of shape does a hurricane have?
What kind of shape does a hurricane have?
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1
What kind of winds are needed for a hurricane?
What kind of winds are needed for a hurricane?
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1
In North America hurricanes tend to happen between May and ___
In North America hurricanes tend to happen between May and ___
Hurricanes are powerful weather events that draw energy from warm tropical waters. In the Atlantic ocean these are called hurricanes, but if the same storm were to begin in the Pacific ocean they would be called Cyclones. They often begin as tropical waves, which are low-pressure areas moving through moist tropical regions. To form a hurricane, certain conditions must be met: a pre-existing weather disturbance (usually a tropical wave), warm water (26.5°C or 80°F), thunderstorm activity to provide fuel, and low wind shear (winds that converge in different directions). Even with most of these elements present, a hurricane may not always develop. If the temperatures are too low, or there is not an existing tropical wave, or even if the winds are not converging just so; there won't be a hurricane. As hurricanes move westward, warm ocean air rises, creating low pressure underneath and causing more air to rush in. When wind speeds reach 74 mph, the storm is classified as a hurricane.
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2
Hurricanes often start as a tropical_______
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2
The ocean water must be at least_______ degrees Celsius to fuel a hurricane.
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2
Thunderstorm activity turns ocean heat into_______ for the storm.
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1
At what wind speed is a storm classified as a hurricane?
At what wind speed is a storm classified as a hurricane?
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1
What term refers to the same kind of storm as a hurricane?
What term refers to the same kind of storm as a hurricane?
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4
Describe at least one reason why a hurricane might not develop even if all the conditions seem right.
Describe at least one reason why a hurricane might not develop even if all the conditions seem right.
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1
What temperature does "warm water" mean?
What temperature does "warm water" mean?
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What provides the heat energy to the thunderstorms?
What provides the heat energy to the thunderstorms?
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What does the hurricane leave behind it as it moves?
What does the hurricane leave behind it as it moves?
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2
So why do warming oceans matter to humans?
So why do warming oceans matter to humans?