Deck 13: Hurricanes

Question 1

In the Northern Hemisphere,hurricanes and middle latitude cyclones are similar in that both:

A)have surface weather fronts.
B)intensify with increasing height above the ground.
C)have winds that blow counterclockwise around their centers.
D)will generally move from west to east.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which would you not expect to observe as the eye of a hurricane passes directly over your area?

A)an increase in surface temperature
B)a very low surface pressure reading
C)high winds
D)little or no precipitation

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Hurricanes can't form along the equator because:

A)there isn't much water along the equator,it's mostly land.
B)the Coriolis force is too small along the equator.
C)there are no feedback mechanisms along the equator.
D)it's too humid for the ocean water to evaporate.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Pressure at the center of a hurricane is __________ than the surroundings at the surface and __________ than the surroundings aloft.

A)higher,lower
B)lower,higher
C)lower,lower
D)higher,higher

Question 5

The main source of energy for a hurricane is the:

A)upper-level jet stream.
B)rising of warm air and sinking of cold air in the vicinity of weather fronts.
C)warm ocean water and release of latent heat of condensation.
D)ocean currents and tides.

Question 6

Hurricanes dissipate when:

A)they move over colder water.
B)they move over land.
C)surface inflow of air exceeds upper-level outflow of air.
D)all of the above

Question 7

The strongest winds in a hurricane heading westward toward Florida would most likely be found on the __________ side.

A)northern
B)southern
C)eastern
D)western

Question 8

At the periphery of a hurricane the air is __________,and several kilometers above the surface,in the eye,the air is __________.

A)sinking,sinking
B)sinking,rising
C)rising,sinking
D)rising,rising

Question 9

Because of the conservation of angular momentum,air spiraling inward toward the center of a hurricane __________ in speed.

A)decreases
B)increases
C)remains constant

Question 10

Streamlines on a weather map depict:

A)water temperature.
B)pressure.
C)wind flow.
D)dew point.
E)ocean currents.

Question 11

The vertical structure of the hurricane shows an upper-level __________ of air,and a surface __________ of air.

A)outflow,inflow
B)outflow,outflow
C)inflow,outflow
D)inflow,inflow

Question 12

Which of the following is not true concerning an easterly wave?

A)moves from east to west
B)has converging winds on its western side
C)showers and thunderstorms may be found on its eastern side
D)indicates a region of lower-than-average pressure

Question 13

Which below is not an atmospheric condition conducive to the formation of hurricanes?

A)a region of converging surface winds at the surface
B)warm water
C)strong upper-level winds
D)cold air aloft
E)moist,humid surface air

Question 14

Which of the following areas in the United States would most likely experience thunderstorms,hurricanes and tornadoes during the course of one year?

A)Pacific Coast states
B)New England states
C)Gulf Coast states
D)Great Plains states

Question 15

Hurricane winds rotate in a clockwise direction:

A)in the Northern Hemisphere only.
B)in the Southern Hemisphere only.
C)in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
D)in neither hemisphere.

Question 16

As a northward-moving hurricane passes to the east of an area,surface winds should change from:

A)NW to N to NE.
B)W to SW to S.
C)NE to N to NW.
D)S to SW to W.
E)SE to S to SW.

Question 17

The strongest winds in a hurricane are found:

A)at the center of the storm.
B)in the eye wall.
C)in the rain bands.
D)at upper levels,above the center of the hurricane.
E)near the periphery of the hurricane.

Question 18

Suppose the eye of a hurricane passed directly over you,and you survived the experience.If winds were from the northeast as the eyewall first approached you,from what direction did the winds blow when the eyewall reached you the second time?

A)NW
B)NE
C)SE
D)SW

Question 19

The favorable stability condition for hurricane development is:

A)a deep layer of stable air.
B)a shallow layer of absolutely unstable air.
C)a shallow layer of conditionally unstable air.
D)a deep layer of conditionally unstable air.

Question 20

Most of the destruction caused by a hurricane is due to:

A)high winds.
B)flooding.
C)tornadoes.
D)hail.

Question 21

Computer models of hurricanes almost always agree on their predictions of a hurricane's movement and evolution.

Question 22

Hurricanes have strong divergence at their tops.

Question 23

List and describe some of the conditions that are favorable to hurricane development.What atmospheric conditions inhibit hurricane formation and growth?

Question 24

During a storm surge,water levels along the coast typically rise only about 2 feet.

Question 25

There is a limit to the intensity of hurricanes.

Question 26

In order for a hurricane to form,the layer of warm water must extend from the ocean surface to a
depth of at least 400 meters.

Question 27

On the Saffir-Simpson scale a category 5 storm would indicate a very strong hurricane.

Question 28

Why can't hurricanes form in the midlatitudes?

Question 29

How might the path of a hurricane,moving toward the west from Africa,be affected by the Bermuda High as the hurricane approaches the United States?

Question 30

Hurricane season for the tropical North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans normally runs from June through November.Why don't hurricanes form in these locations at other times of the year?

Question 31

Very heavy rainfall amounts are often recorded when a hurricane or tropical storm moves over land.Why do these storms produce so much rain?

Question 32

In what ways would you expect hurricanes in the Southern Hemisphere to be different from hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere?

Question 33

In what ways are weather conditions in the tropics and at middle latitudes different?

Question 34

As latent heat is released inside the clouds of a hurricane,the warming of the air aloft creates an area of low pressure aloft.

Question 35

Most hurricanes have fronts.

Question 36

Although much is not yet understood about hurricanes,meteorologists have a reasonably complete understanding of how hurricanes form.

Question 37

With sketches show the structure of a mature hurricane as it would appear from the side and from above.Indicate and label the major features.

Question 38

Compare the size of an average hurricane to that of an average tornado.Given the size and intensity of each,which do you think is the more destructive storm? Why?

Question 39

The energy for hurricanes comes from the transfer of sensible and latent heat from the ocean surface to the atmosphere.

Question 40

In your opinion do hurricanes pose the greatest threat to the east or west coast of the United States? Explain.

Question 41

What is a storm surge? How does a storm surge form?