Introduction
Hurricanes have always been affecting tropical places. With high winds, heavy rain, and flooding, they are very dangerous to those who are present at the time of the storm. How do these hurricanes and tropical storms form, and how can people prepare for them?
Formation
Every hurricane needs warm, moist air and warm water. This is why hurricanes occur in the tropics and not in more northern areas. When most thunderstorms off of east Africa start to drift over warmer water, they come into contact with converging winds from the equator. In other instances, they can originate from unstable air pockets popping out in the Gulf of Mexico. As air is brought into the system, an area of low pressure is formed underneath. So, when the warm, moist air starts to rise rapidly, it encounters cooler air above to form water vapor to condense and to form storm clouds and water droplets, or rain. As it continues, more warm air enters the system and it starts to develop into a storm. The heat is transferred from the ocean surface to the atmosphere, creating a wind pattern that spirals around a center, similar to water going down a drain. Once the wind reaches a speed of 74 mph, the storm is classified as a hurricane. “During just one hurricane, raging winds can churn out about half as much energy as the electrical generating capacity of the entire world, while cloud and rain formation from the same storm might release a staggering 400 times that amount”(oceanservice.noaa.gov). In the middle of the hurricane, the “eye of the hurricane” is present. In this area, it is relatively calm, however, the surrounding eyewall has the strongest winds and weather in the entire system.
“How Do Hurricanes Form.” Spaceplane.nasa.org, spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/en/.
In this picture, you can see the movement of storms from the eastern coast of Africa, to farther eastern tropical areas. Also, the type of storm is labeled depending on the location of it.
“How Does a Hurricane Form.” SciJinks.gov, scijinks.gov/hurricane/.
In this diagram, the actual formation of the hurricane is shown. The movement of the air and water is shown, along with the mixture of the cold and warm air.
How Can People Prepare For Hurricanes?
For people in tropical areas, they need to know what to do in the chance of a hurricane. During pre-season, preparation is important. Knowing all of the evacuation roots, having a home that is up to code with hurricane safety, having the proper tools and first-aid, along with a supply of food and water are all ways to stay prepared for hurricane season. Then, when a hurricane warning is issued, they can already be one step ahead. When the hurricane is passing through, evacuating when told to is necessary.
My Opinion
Overall, the formation of hurricanes and is simple and straightforward. Through my research on this topic, I understand why so many hurricanes move in from the same place(Africa). Also, I learned that with hurricane preparation and tracking the storm, people can keep themselves safe.
References
“How Do Hurricanes Form.” Spaceplane.nasa.org, spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/en/.
“How Does a Hurricane Form.” SciJinks.gov, scijinks.gov/hurricane/.
“Hurricane Safety Tips.” Hurricane Safety Tips: Tips On Being Prepared For A Hurricane., www.hurricaneville.com/safety.html.
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “How Do Hurricanes Form?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, 28 June 2013, oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/how-hurricanes-form.html.
West, Larry. “Weather and Atmospheric Conditions That Create and Drive Hurricanes.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 28 July 2019, www.thoughtco.com/what-causes-hurricanes-1203855.