Term
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Definition
| the amount of force applied to a surface by molecules of air. |
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Term
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Definition
| a mass of air that presses down weakly on the surface of the Earth because it is being warmed and is therefore less dense than the surrounding air. |
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Term
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Definition
| A mass of air that presses down strongly on the surface of the Earth because it is being cooled and is therefore more dense than the surrounding air. |
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Term
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Definition
| A metric unit of atmospheric pressure equal to one thousandth of a bar. Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 1,013 millibars. |
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Term
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Definition
| a measure of the amount of matter in an object. |
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Definition
| a measure of how hot or cold something is; specifically, a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object. |
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Term
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Definition
| a ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance. |
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Term
| Where do hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean begin? |
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Definition
| Off the west coast of Africa. |
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Term
| What happens in the Intertropical Convergence Zone to create hurricanes? |
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Definition
| Tradewinds from the northern and southern hemisphere meet creating an area rich in storms. |
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Term
| What are two properties of the ocean water over which hurricanes form? |
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Definition
| Temperature is at least 80F to a depth of at least 200 feet. |
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Term
| What is the air pressure in an area where warm air is rising? |
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Definition
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Term
| Explain why wind speeds are so high in hurricanes. |
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Definition
| The cycle of warm, humid air rising pulls in more humid air. This lowers the pressure which pulls in even more warm, humid air. As the air pressure lowers, wind speeds increase. |
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Term
| What causes a storm to spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are the wind speeds for each stage of hurricane development? |
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Definition
Tropical Depression: Wind speed < 39 mph.
Tropical Storm: Wind speed 39 - 73 mph.
Hurricane: Wind speed > 74 mph. |
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Term
| What is one factor in determining the path of a hurricane? |
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Definition
| The strength of the Bermuda High. |
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Term
| If the Bermuda High is intense, what path might a hurricane take? |
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Definition
| Over Cuba and into the Gulf of Mexico. |
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Term
| If the Bermuda High is weak, what path might a hurricane take? |
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Definition
| Along the East Coast of the US. |
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Term
| If the Bermuda High is very weak, what path might a hurricane take? |
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Definition
| A hurricane might circle around in the Atlantic Ocean. |
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Term
| What causes a hurricane to weaken once it moves over land? |
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Definition
| Friction of the land slows the hurricane down and it loses it's source of energy as it moves away from warm water. |
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Term
| What is the source of energy for a hurricane? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Bands of showers and heavy rain. |
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Term
| What is the eye wall of a hurricane? |
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Definition
| A band of clouds, strong winds and heavy rain where air moves rapidly into the storm and upward. |
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Term
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Definition
| High level clouds, over 35,000 feet, spreading air out over the top of the storm. |
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Term
| What is the eye of the hurricane? |
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Definition
| An area of sinking air which creates a clear, calm area in the center of the storm. |
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Term
| Why do meteorologists name storms? |
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Definition
| To help identify and keep track of each storm as it forms. |
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Term
| Why are some names retired? |
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Definition
| Because the storm was so big and destructive. |
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Term
| Is North Carolina one of the top 5 states to be hit by hurricanes? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Imaginary lines that go east to west around the globe. They measure how far north or south of the equator something is. |
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Term
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Definition
| Imaginary lines that run north to south around the globe. Longitude measures how far east or west of the Prime Meridian something is located. |
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Term
| What are some key factors in tracking a hurricane? |
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Definition
Location using latitude and longitude.
Wind Speed.
Barometric pressure. |
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