how hurricanes form crash course

How do hurricanes form?

Hurricanes form over the ocean, often beginning as a tropical wave—a low pressure area that moves through the moisture-rich tropics, possibly enhancing shower and thunderstorm activity.

What conditions are needed to form a hurricane?

For one to form, there needs to be warm ocean water and moist, humid air in the region. When humid air is flowing upward at a zone of low pressure over warm ocean water, the water is released from the air as creating the clouds of the storm. As it rises, the air in a hurricane rotates.

What happens to the air in a hurricane as it rises?

As it rises, the air in a hurricane rotates. Air drawn into the center of a hurricane curves to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect - a result of the Earth's rotation.

What makes a hurricane strong or weak?

Warm water: Water at least 26.5 degrees Celsius over a depth of 50 meters powers the storm. Thunderstorm activity: Thunderstorms turn ocean heat into hurricane fuel. Low wind shear: A large difference in wind speed and direction around or near the storm can weaken it.

How are hurricanes formed step by step?

Warm ocean waters and thunderstorms fuel power-hungry hurricanes.A pre-existing weather disturbance: A hurricane often starts out as a tropical wave.Warm water: Water at least 26.5 degrees Celsius over a depth of 50 meters powers the storm.Thunderstorm activity: Thunderstorms turn ocean heat into hurricane fuel.More items...•

How are hurricanes formed for dummies?

The cooler air will then warm and start to rise. This cycle causes huge storm clouds to form. These storm clouds will begin to rotate with the spin of the Earth forming an organized system. If there is enough warm water, the cycle will continue and the storm clouds and wind speeds will grow causing a hurricane to form.

How are hurricanes formed short answer?

Hurricanes form when warm moist air over water begins to rise. The rising air is replaced by cooler air. This process continues to grow large clouds and thunderstorms. These thunderstorms continue to grow and begin to rotate thanks to earth's Coriolis Effect.

What is a hurricane and how is it formed?

A hurricane is a large rotating storm with high speed winds that forms over warm waters in tropical areas. Hurricanes have sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour and an area of low air pressure in the center called the eye. Different Names for Hurricanes. The scientific name for a hurricane is a tropical cyclone ...

How do you explain hurricanes to preschoolers?

0:002:18Learning about Hurricanes for kids and children - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey can also cause tornadoes thunder and lightning big waves and flooding. The hole in the centerMoreThey can also cause tornadoes thunder and lightning big waves and flooding. The hole in the center of a hurricane is called the eye. It's a clear part of the storm. No clouds or rain at all.

What are 5 facts about hurricanes?

A typical hurricane can dump 6 inches to a foot of rain across a region. The most violent winds and heaviest rains take place in the eye wall, the ring of clouds and thunderstorms closely surrounding the eye. Every second, a large hurricane releases the energy of 10 atomic bombs. Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes.

Where do hurricanes form?

Atlantic OceanHurricanes are the most violent storms on Earth. They form near the equator over warm ocean waters. Actually, the term hurricane is used only for the large storms that form over the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean. The generic, scientific term for these storms, wherever they occur, is tropical cyclone.

Where do hurricanes start forming?

the tropicsHurricanes begin to form near the tropics, in the Caribbean or in the waters around the Cape Verdean islands of West Africa. Relatively warm surface water evaporates rapidly and then condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds. Moist air rises to saturation and a weather system known as a tropical depression forms.

What is a hurricane simple definition?

A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. The eye of a storm is usually 20-30 miles wide and may extend over 400 miles. The dangers of a storm include torrential rains, high winds and storm surges.

How storms are formed?

Storms are created when a center of low pressure develops with the system of high pressure surrounding it. This combination of opposing forces can create winds and result in the formation of storm clouds such as cumulonimbus.

Why is it called hurricane?

In the Atlantic and northern Pacific, the storms are called "hurricanes," after the Caribbean god of evil, named Hurrican. In the northwestern Pacific, the same powerful storms are called "typhoons." In the southeastern Indian Ocean and southwestern Pacific, they are called "severe tropical cyclones."

What causes hurricane season?

Hurricanes happen when the oceans have been warmed during summer months. In the North Atlantic, hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but most hurricanes happen during the fall. As a hurricane's winds spiral around and around the storm, they push water into a mound at the storm's center.

Why do tropical cyclones form?

The warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. Because this air moves up and away from the surface, there is less air left near the surface.

Which way do storms spin?

Storms that form north of the equator spin counterclockwise. Storms south of the equator spin clockwise. This difference is because of Earth's rotation on its axis.

What do the red arrows on a tropical cyclone mean?

The small red arrows show warm, moist air rising from the ocean's surface, and forming clouds in bands around the eye. The blue arrows show how cool, dry air sinks in the eye and between the bands of clouds.

What is the wind speed of a hurricane?

And when the wind speeds reach 74 mph, the storm is officially a "tropical cyclone," or hurricane. Tropical cyclones usually weaken when they hit land, because they are no longer being "fed" by the energy from the warm ocean waters.

Why is the eye in the center of a storm?

This difference is because of Earth's rotation on its axis. As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the center. It is very calm and clear in the eye, with very low air pressure. Higher pressure air from above flows down into the eye.

What are the most violent storms on Earth?

Hurricanes are the most awesome, violent storms on Earth. People call these storms by other names, such as typhoons or cyclones, depending on where they occur. The scientific term for all these storms is tropical cyclone. Only tropical cyclones that form over the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean are called "hurricanes.".

What are the elements needed for a hurricane to form?

Thunderstorms, warm ocean water and light wind are needed for a hurricane to form (A). Once formed, a hurricane consists of huge rotating rain bands with a center of clear skies called the eye which is surrounded by the fast winds of the eyewall (B). Off the west coast of Africa, just north of the equator, a thunderstorm forms.

Why do hurricanes grow?

While a hurricane is over warm water it will continue to grow. Because of low pressure at its center, winds flow towards the center of the storm and air is forced upward. High in the atmosphere, winds flow away from the storm, which allows more air from below to rise.

How fast does a hurricane wind blow?

Drawing enough energy from the warmth of the tropical ocean water, these circling thunderstorms might grow into a single tropical storm with winds blowing more than 39 miles per hour. If it grows even larger and winds swirl faster than 74 miles per hour, it is called a hurricane.

How far away from the equator can a hurricane form?

Near the equator, where there is no Coriolis effect, hurricanes cannot form within 300 miles (500 kilometers) of the equator. Storms grow if there is a continuous supply of energy from warm ocean water and warm, moist air. Tropical storms can grow into hurricanes, and hurricanes can grow into stronger hurricanes.

What is the air that rises in a hurricane?

The air that rises needs to be warm and moist so that it forms the clouds of the storm. Warm, moist air is found above warm, tropical ocean waters. A hurricane also needs the winds outside the storm to be light. These winds steer the storm, but are not strong enough to disrupt it.

What are hurricanes called?

These storms are called hurricanes in the Atlantic and are called typhoons and tropical cyclones in other parts of the world. For one to form, there needs to be warm ocean water and moist, humid air in the region.

Where do thunderstorms form?

Off the west coast of Africa, just north of the equator, a thunderstorm forms. It is just a typical towering thunderstorm cloud, but it might grow into something quite different – a hurricane. Perhaps several other thunderstorms form in the same area. And perhaps all those dark towering thunderstorm clouds begin to rotate around an area ...

What is the scientific term for a hurricane?

Hurricanes are the most violent storms on Earth. People call these storms by other names, such as typhoons or cyclones, depending on where they occur. The scientific term for all these storms is tropical cyclone.

Which way do storms spin?

Storms that form north of the equator spin counterclockwise. Storms south of the equator spin clockwise. This difference is because of Earth's rotation on its axis.

What do the red arrows on a tropical cyclone mean?

The small red arrows show warm, moist air rising from the ocean's surface, and forming clouds in bands around the eye. The blue arrows show how cool, dry air sinks in the eye and between the bands of clouds.

What are tropical cyclones called?

Only tropical cyclones that form over the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean are called "hurricanes.". Whatever they are called, tropical cyclones all form the same way. Tropical cyclones are like giant engines that use warm, moist air as fuel. That is why they form only over warm ocean waters near the equator.

Why does the air rise above the surface?

The warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. Because this air moves up and away from the surface , there is less air left near the surface. Another way to say the same thing is that the warm air rises, causing an area of lower air pressure below. A cumulonimbus cloud.

What is a hurricane called when the wind speeds reach 74 mph?

And when the wind speeds reach 74 mph, the storm is officially a "tropical cyclone, " or hurricane.

When did Hurricane Katrina hit?

Hurricane Katrina from space. Here is a movie of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the coast of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, as a Category 3. This movie was made from images taken by the GOES weather satellite.