HurricanesHurricanes

By: R. Craig Gilchrist, Danielle By: R. Craig Gilchrist, Danielle Ormond, and Laura PilmoorOrmond, and Laura Pilmoor

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

• CausesCauses

• DescriptionDescription

• ExplanationExplanation

• EffectsEffects

• Example: Example: Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

CausesCauses

• What does a hurricane What does a hurricane need?need?

• Hurricane Seasons Hurricane Seasons

• What types of weather What types of weather conditions preclude this conditions preclude this phenomenon?phenomenon?

• How can we predict these How can we predict these occurrences?occurrences?

• Why is money put Why is money put towards researching how towards researching how to predict these to predict these occurrences?occurrences?

Hurricane Seasons Hurricane Seasons

• Globally, hurricane Globally, hurricane season peaks in late season peaks in late summer because this is summer because this is the time when the the time when the difference in difference in temperatures between temperatures between the air and the ocean is the air and the ocean is the greatest.the greatest.

• On average September is On average September is the most active hurricane the most active hurricane month whereas May is month whereas May is the least active.the least active.

What types of weather What types of weather conditions preclude this conditions preclude this phenomenon?phenomenon?• Low windsLow winds

• Thunderstorms Thunderstorms

• High water temperatureHigh water temperature

• High humidityHigh humidity

• Low atmospheric pressureLow atmospheric pressure

How can we predict these How can we predict these occurrences?occurrences?

• Because of the complex Because of the complex systems of the hurricanes systems of the hurricanes they are extremely they are extremely difficult to predict before difficult to predict before they start to form.they start to form.

• However computer However computer simulators can predict simulators can predict their paths based on data their paths based on data they have collected from they have collected from satellite images.satellite images.

• It is nearly impossible for It is nearly impossible for scientists to predict the scientists to predict the intensity of the storm.intensity of the storm.

Why is money put towards Why is money put towards researching how to predict researching how to predict these occurrences?these occurrences?• Because they cause a lot of damage.Because they cause a lot of damage.• Over the past two centuries, hurricanes Over the past two centuries, hurricanes

have been responsible for the deaths of have been responsible for the deaths of about 1.9 million persons worldwide. about 1.9 million persons worldwide.

• Hurricane Katrina alone caused $ 81.2 Hurricane Katrina alone caused $ 81.2 billion in property damage.billion in property damage.

• With more advanced prediction systems With more advanced prediction systems billions of dollars could be saved along billions of dollars could be saved along with thousands of lives.with thousands of lives.

DescriptionDescription

• What is a What is a Hurricane?Hurricane?

• What would you What would you experience if you experience if you were caught in this were caught in this deadly storm?deadly storm?

• How do scientists How do scientists rate the intensity rate the intensity of these storms?of these storms?

• What is the science What is the science behind Hurricanes?behind Hurricanes?

What is a Hurricane?What is a Hurricane?• A hurricaneA hurricane is a storm is a storm

system characterized system characterized by a low pressure by a low pressure center (also known as center (also known as the eye) and the eye) and numerous numerous thunderstorms that thunderstorms that produce strong winds produce strong winds and flooding rain. and flooding rain.

• It is also referred to as It is also referred to as a tropical cyclone.a tropical cyclone.

What would you experience if What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly you were caught in this deadly storm?storm?• Storm Surge: an abnormal rise in the Storm Surge: an abnormal rise in the

level of the sea along a coast caused level of the sea along a coast caused by the onshore winds of a severe by the onshore winds of a severe storm I.e. Hurricane. storm I.e. Hurricane.

What would you experience if What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly you were caught in this deadly storm? Cont’dstorm? Cont’d• High winds: as high as 155 High winds: as high as 155

mphmph

• Severe ThunderstormsSevere Thunderstorms

• Structural DamageStructural Damage

• Torrential RainTorrential Rain

• Flooding (see storm surge)Flooding (see storm surge)

How do scientists rate the How do scientists rate the intensity of these storms?/ intensity of these storms?/ What is the science behind What is the science behind Hurricanes?Hurricanes?• Hurricanes are Hurricanes are

rated on the Saffir-rated on the Saffir-Simpson Scale Simpson Scale which categorizes which categorizes hurricanes into five hurricanes into five groups based on groups based on intensity. intensity.

• Click here to see a to see a cool animation on cool animation on Hurricanes.Hurricanes.

EffectsEffects

• How hurricanes How hurricanes effect people?effect people?

• How hurricanes How hurricanes effect animals?effect animals?

• How hurricanes How hurricanes effect nature?effect nature?

• On whom or what On whom or what do hurricanes do hurricanes impact the most?impact the most?

How hurricanes effect people?How hurricanes effect people?

• Destroy homes.Destroy homes.

• Take lives through Take lives through drowning, blowing drowning, blowing away, collapsing away, collapsing buildings, etc.buildings, etc.

• Destroys livelihoods.Destroys livelihoods.

• Leaves them with Leaves them with few to no resources.few to no resources.

How hurricanes effect animals?How hurricanes effect animals?

• Destroys habitats.Destroys habitats.

• Kills animals: Flings Kills animals: Flings birds out of the sky, birds out of the sky, sucks water and land sucks water and land animals in to the sky.animals in to the sky.

• Leaves pets Leaves pets ownerlessownerless

• Destroys food supply.Destroys food supply.

How hurricanes effect nature?How hurricanes effect nature?

• Pollutes water with Pollutes water with debrisdebris

• Destroys trees and Destroys trees and other vegetationother vegetation

• Floods ground Floods ground which discourages which discourages regeneration regeneration

On whom or what do On whom or what do hurricanes impact the most?hurricanes impact the most?

• Hurricanes impact Hurricanes impact humans the most humans the most because nature and because nature and animals have the animals have the ability to adapt ability to adapt whereas humans are whereas humans are dependant on our dependant on our resources and when resources and when they are destroyed, they are destroyed, we are left with we are left with nothing.nothing.

Example: Hurricane KatrinaExample: Hurricane Katrina

• The costliest and one of the 5 deadliest hurricanes in the The costliest and one of the 5 deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States.history of the United States.

• It was a category 5 hurricane that was formed on August It was a category 5 hurricane that was formed on August 23, during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.23, during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season.

• Katrina started as a category one hurricane but over the Katrina started as a category one hurricane but over the gulf of Mexico it became one of the strongest hurricanes gulf of Mexico it became one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded on record at sea.ever recorded on record at sea.

• At least 1,836 people lost their lives to Katrina making it the At least 1,836 people lost their lives to Katrina making it the deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since 1928.deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since 1928.

• An area almost as large as the United Kingdom (233,000 An area almost as large as the United Kingdom (233,000 kmkm22) )

• It cost $81.2 billion in damages. More than double of what It cost $81.2 billion in damages. More than double of what the previous most expensive hurricane cost. (Hurricane the previous most expensive hurricane cost. (Hurricane Andrew)Andrew)

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina

• View Katrina

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