Tropical Storms

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Tropical Storms

• Questions

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Questions

• What is a tropical storm?
• What are three names for a tropical storm?
• Explain how tropical storms are formed (draw a
  diagram to help you).
• Explain three aspects of a tropical storm that
  may cause damage when it hits land.
• Where are tropical storms most common?

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What is a tropical storm?

• Tropical storms are intensive, low pressure
  weather systems. They occur in summer and are
  found in low latitudes.

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What are three names for a tropical storm?

• In different parts of the world, tropical storms
  are know as hurricanes (America), cyclones
  (Africa and Australia) and Typhoons (Asia).

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Explain how tropical storms are formed (draw a
diagram to help you).

• When warm air passes over the ocean the water
  condenses and forms clouds.
• When the sea is warm this happens very quickly,
  creating lots of clouds and generating strong
  winds.
• As the storm grows, the rotation of the earth
  causes the winds to spiral upwards and outwards.
  This creates the eye of the storm, where the
  temperature is higher and there are no clouds.
• Tropical cyclones need heat and moisture to
  maintain their strength.
• Strong Trade Winds drive the storms onto land
  where the lack of moisture causes them to loose
  their energy, but not before they cause damage to
  coastal areas.

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When warm air passes over the ocean the water
condenses and forms clouds.
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When the sea is warm this happens very quickly,
creating lots of clouds and generating strong
winds.
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As the storm grows, the rotation of the earth
causes the winds to spiral upwards and outwards.
This creates the eye of the storm, where the
temperature is higher and there are no clouds.
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Tropical cyclones need heat and moisture to
maintain their strength
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Strong Trade Winds drive the storms onto land
where the lack of moisture causes them to loose
their energy, but not before they cause damage to
the coastal areas.
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• Strong winds often reach 160km/hr and can flatten
  buildings and destroy vegetation.
• Torrential rain can cause landslides and
  flooding.
• Storm surges case a rapid increase in sea level
  and can drown many people.

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Where are tropical storms most common?

• Tropical storms occur near the Equator (but not
  on it) between the tropic of Cancer and the
  tropic of Capricorn where the water in the oceans
  is warmest.

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Make a Hurricane

• Hurricane Quiz