Deck 14: Hurricanes and Nor’easters

Question 1

When is hurricane season (which months),and why then?

A) July, because that is the hottest month and rainfall is highest in the tropics
B) July, because winds are the highest over the normally stagnant doldrums of the equatorial ocean
C) July to August, because those are the hottest months
D) September, because it takes all summer to warm the ocean
E) December, because it takes all year to warm the ocean

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the approximate forward speed of a hurricane (how fast does it approach the coast)?

A) about 5-10 km/hour
B) about 25 km/hour
C) about 100 km/hour
D) about 200 km/hour
E) about 500 km/hour

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What local circumstances also raise the height of a storm surge onshore close to the beach?

A) A surge moving into a bay funnels the water and raises the surge.
B) Approaching the coast, the hurricane moves faster toward the coast.
C) Approaching the coast, the hurricane moves slower toward the coast.
D) Coastal vegetation, such as thick groves of mangroves, raises the height of a storm surge onshore close to the beach.
E) Low sand dunes raise the height of a storm surge onshore close to the beach.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Where in a hurricane are the winds strongest?

A) in the eye
B) just outside the eye (in the eye wall)
C) half way out to the outer fringe of the hurricane
D) at the outer fringe
E) center of the surge

Question 5

Why are houses in hurricane areas generally on tall posts?

A) to keep them above the level of high waves
B) to keep them above the level of the storm surge
C) to let blowing sand go under them
D) to keep them above the strongest winds
E) to provide less wind resistance

Question 6

What effects does the wind NOT have on buildings during a hurricane?

A) blows out windows and doors
B) lifts off roofs
C) flying debris causes severe damage
D) blows down (collapses) roofs
E) shears off siding

Question 7

Why is there more coastal damage if the sand dunes are lower? Which of the following is least important?

A) There is more erosion because wave energy is not used in moving the dune sand.
B) Waves can go over the dunes to strike the homes.
C) Waves can carry sand inland as overwash.
D) The surge can move much farther inland.
E) The wind is stronger near the ground in low-dune areas.

Question 8

Where in a hurricane is the atmospheric pressure lowest,and approximately how low can that be?

A) lowest in the zone of high winds, just outside the eye; as low as 950 millibars
B) lowest just outside the eye wall; as low as 920 millibars
C) lowest in the eye; as low as 965 millibars
D) lowest in the eye; as low as 1,200 millibars
E) lowest in the zone of high winds, midway between the eye and its outer fringes; as low as 950 millibars

Question 9

Why is storm damage of a westward-moving hurricane generally less on the south side of the eye?

A) It isn't. The storm surge is highest right under the eye where the atmospheric pressure is lowest.
B) It isn't. The hurricane winds are highest both just north and just south of the eye, less farther away.
C) The winds are moving offshore there, so the waves are smaller. The storm surge is north of the eye.
D) The winds are moving offshore there rather than onshore, so the debris travels over open water rather than colliding with buildings.
E) Winds in the left-front quadrant point most directly at the shore. They cause the greatest surge and wind effects.

Question 10

Where does a tropical cyclone or hurricane get its energy?

A) in the heat and moisture rising from a low pressure cell of the equatorial ocean
B) from heat of the sun shining off a hot desert near the equator
C) from high temperatures of a humid high pressure weather cell near the equator
D) from high summer temperatures over humid equatorial jungles
E) none of these

Question 11

What significant effects does faster forward-speed of a hurricane have on coastal areas?

A) higher level surge and more rain
B) higher level surge and less rain
C) lower level surge and more rain
D) lower level surge and less rain
E) more wind damage

Question 12

What is the approximate diameter of most hurricanes and of a hurricane's eye?

A) Hurricane diameter is about 50 to 150 km with an eye about 1 to 2 km.
B) Hurricane diameter is about 50 to 150 km with an eye about 40 to 100 km.
C) Hurricane diameter is about 160 to 800 km with an eye about 20 to 50 km.
D) Hurricane diameter is about 200 to 600 km with an eye about 1 to 2 km.
E) Hurricane diameter is about 500 to 2,000 km with an eye about 10 to 25 km.

Question 13

What shape of roof is most susceptible to being lifted off by a hurricane?

A) a flat roof
B) a gently sloping roof with one slope facing toward the wind
C) a steep "A-frame" roof
D) a dome-shaped roof (hemisphere)
E) a "hip" roof sloping toward all four sides

Question 14

Which of these effects on coastal areas is NOT caused by heavy rain during a hurricane?

A) flooded streams
B) landslides (from saturated slopes)
C) drowned people
D) contaminated groundwater
E) large storm surges

Question 15

Why are skies clear in the eye of a hurricane?

A) Warm air is rising.
B) Warm, dry air is descending.
C) Cold air is rising.
D) Cold, dry air is descending.
E) Any moisture is flung to the edge of the eye wall by centrifugal forces.

Question 16

Which way do hurricane winds move?

A) counterclockwise, inward toward the eye, upward outside the eye, and downward inside the eye
B) counterclockwise, inward toward the eye, downward outside the eye, and upward inside the eye
C) counterclockwise, outward from the eye, upward outside the eye, and downward inside the eye
D) clockwise, outward from the eye, upward outside the eye, and downward inside the eye
E) clockwise, inward toward the eye, upward outside the eye, and downward inside the eye

Question 17

Aside from flooding,what damages do NOT accompany the surge of a hurricane?

A) Buildings, bridges, and piers are washed away.
B) Dunes are washed away.
C) Houses not on high posts are floated and carried farther onshore.
D) Heavy sand is deposited on beaches, partly burying some homes.
E) Saltwater invades and contaminates groundwater.

Question 18

What two main factors cause increased height of a storm surge?

A) low atmospheric pressure and strong hurricane winds
B) high atmospheric pressure
C) high winds pushing the water
D) high waves driven by strong winds
E) high winds pushing high waves into shallow water

Question 19

Where do hurricanes striking North America originate?

A) the central Pacific Ocean, near the equator
B) in the Gulf of Mexico
C) off the northern coast of South America, near the equator
D) near-equatorial latitudes off the west coast of Africa
E) in the steamy jungles of the Congo, in western Africa

Question 20

What shape of roof is least vulnerable to being pulled off?

A) a flat roof
B) a hip roof (sloping to all sides)
C) a gently sloping roof with one slope facing toward the wind
D) a dome-shaped roof (hemisphere)
E) a steep "A-frame" roof

Question 21

What are nor'easters? Describe the ways in which nor'easters differ from hurricanes.

Question 22

Aside from flooding,what damages accompany the hurricane surge?

Question 23

What local circumstances also raise the height of a storm surge?

Question 24

Why are skies clear in the eye of a hurricane?

Question 25

Explain the two stages of hurricane alerts.List some precautionary measures to take before evacuating because of a hurricane.

Question 26

What is the approximate diameter of most hurricanes and of a hurricane's eye?

Question 27

Of the main hazards in a hurricane,which causes the greatest amount of dollar damage? Why?

Question 28

What are some examples of natural protections against hurricanes? What can people do to preserve these protections?

Question 29

Explain why death tolls from hurricanes are much higher in poor countries.

Question 30

In what respect does a typical nor'easter differ from a hurricane?

Question 31

In addition to roof shape and inland location,what is especially important about building construction to make it less vulnerable to hurricane damage? (two quite different factors)

Question 32

Why isn't the greatest coastal damage from a hurricane directly in line with the center of the hurricane path as it reaches land?

Question 33

Where would the area of highest storm surge be compared with the eye of a major hurricane moving to the west?

Question 34

What is the approximate forward speed of a hurricane (how fast does it approach the coast)?

Question 35

What information is given in hurricane predictions?