P2B 05Hurricanes: Key Themes and Facts

What are hurricanes and their key features?

• Hurricanes are weak storms that bring light rain and gentle winds.

• Hurricanes are very strong tropical storms that bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and high waves.

• Hurricanes are cold weather systems that occur in winter and bring snow.

• Hurricanes are small storms that only affect coastal areas.

What conditions are necessary for the formation of hurricanes?

• Hurricanes can form in any ocean regardless of temperature.

• Sea temperatures must be over 27°C, and they form between 5° and 30° latitude north/south of the equator.

• Hurricanes only form in the Arctic regions during winter.

• Hurricanes require cold water temperatures and high altitudes.

What factors determine the impact of hurricanes on coastal areas?

• The strength of the hurricane, type of coastlines, and level of development.

• The distance from the equator, type of coastlines, and population density.

• The time of year, type of coastlines, and local wildlife.

• The strength of the hurricane, the presence of coral reefs, and the height of buildings.

How are hurricanes classified?

• By their color

• By their size

• By wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson scale

• By the amount of rainfall they produce

What is the typical path of a hurricane?

• Hurricanes develop in the tropics and move from east to west due to the Easterlies.

• Hurricanes always move from west to east regardless of their location.

• Hurricanes form in polar regions and move towards the equator.

• Hurricanes do not move and remain stationary in one location.

Describe the structure of a hurricane.

• The eye is a calm central area where winds spiral rapidly upwards, and the most intense winds are found in the eye wall.

• Hurricanes are characterized by a single, straight line of wind with no central calm area.

• The eye of a hurricane is the region with the highest atmospheric pressure and calmest winds.

• Hurricanes do not have a defined structure and can vary greatly in appearance.

What is a storm surge and how is it caused?

• A storm surge is a sudden rise in ocean level under the storm's center, caused by inward spiraling winds and low atmospheric pressure.

• A storm surge is a gradual increase in ocean level due to high tides and normal weather patterns.

• A storm surge is a phenomenon that occurs only during hurricanes and has no relation to wind patterns.

• A storm surge is a rise in ocean level caused by heavy rainfall and river overflow.