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HURRICANES, TORNADOES & THUNDERSTORMS

HURRICANES, TORNADOES & THUNDERSTORMS. R. Michelle Esserwein 2014. HURRICANES. Large, rotating tropical weather system w/wind speeds of at least 120 km/h The most powerful storms on Earth. Pacific Ocean—typhoons Indian Ocean---cyclones

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HURRICANES, TORNADOES & THUNDERSTORMS

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  1. HURRICANES, TORNADOES & THUNDERSTORMS R. Michelle Esserwein 2014

  2. HURRICANES • Large, rotating tropical weather system w/wind speeds of at least 120 km/h • The most powerful storms on Earth. • Pacific Ocean—typhoons • Indian Ocean---cyclones • Form in areas between 5o to 20o north latitude & 5oto 20o south latitude over warm, tropical areas.

  3. HURRICANES • At higher latitudes, water is too cold for hurricanes to form. • Vary in size from 160 to 1,500 km in diameter • Can travel for thousands of kilometers. • Begins as a group of thunderstorms over tropical ocean water.

  4. HURRICANES • Winds traveling in two different directions meet and cause the storm to spin. • Because of the Coriolis effect, storm turns counterclockwise in N. Hem & clockwise in the S. Hem. • Gets energy from condensation of water vapor. • Once formed, fueled by warm ocean water.

  5. HURRICANES • As warm, moist air rises, water vapor condenses & releases large amounts of energy. • When moving into cold water or land, it begins to die as it has lost its source of energy.

  6. HURRICANES • Wind speeds range from 120-150 km/h, some reaching speeds as high as 300 km/h. • Knock down trees, telephone poles, damage and destroy buildings and homes. • Most damage is caused by flooding associated with heavy winds & storm surges.

  7. HURRICANES • SAFETY • May need to evacuate the area. • Disaster supply kit that includes enough food and water for several days. • Cover windows w/plywood • Stay indoors during the storm.

  8. TORNADOES • Happen in only 1% of thunderstorms. • Small, spinning column of air that has high wind speeds & low central pressure. • Touches the ground. • Starts out as a funnel cloud that pokes through a cumulonimbus cloud & hangs in the air

  9. TORNADOES • Funnel cloud becomes a tornado when it makes contact with Earth’s surface. • 75% occur in the U.S. • Spring & early summer • Cold, dry air from Canada meets the moist, warm air from the tropics.

  10. TORNADOES • Path of destruction is about 8 km long and 10 to 60 km. wide. • Last only a few minutes; cause lots of damage • Strong spinning winds; average wind speeds are between 120-180 km/hr. • More violent tornadoes can have spinning winds up to 500 km/h.

  11. TORANDOES • Winds have been known to uproot trees, destroy buildings, can pick up heavy objects (cars; mobile homes) and hurl them through the air. • SAFETY! • Watches—lets people know that a tornado may happen • Warning-lets people know that a tornado has been spotted

  12. TORNADOES • Go to the basement or cellar or to a windowless room in the center of the building (bathroom, closet, or hallway) • Outside---lie down in a large, open field or a deep ditch.

  13. YOU KNOW THERE’S A SONG?!?!?! • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOw6ONcKk4g&index=27&list=PLCE7EE0E60A4CB6B1 • YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO IT!!! • YOU LOVE THESE CHEESY SONGS!!!! OR, AT LEAST YOU PRETEND TO!!! LOL! 

  14. THUNDERSTORMS • Small, intense weather systems that produce strong winds, heavy rain, lightning and thunder. • Occur along cold fronts. • Two atmospheric conditions required: warm & moist air near Earth’s surface & an unstable atmosphere (surrounding air is colder than rising warm air mass).

  15. THUNDERSTORMS • Forms cumulus/cumulonimbus clouds • Electrically active (lightning!) • Lightning---electric discharge that occurs between a positively charged area & a negatively charged area. • Happens between clouds, between Earth and cloud or within a cloud.

  16. THUNDERSTORMS • Energy is released when lightning strikes. • Energy transferred to the air and causes air to expand rapidly, sending out sound waves (thunder). • Severe thunderstorms---produce high winds, hail, flash floods & tornadoes. • SAFETY! Stay inside! Stay away from trees as lightning is attracted to tall objects. Stay out of water!

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