Question 1

Which roofing design is the most hurricane-resistant?
A)sloped, clay tile
B)flat, wood shingle
C)flat, metal ​
D)flat, concrete tile
E)sloped, stucco

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Where does a tropical cyclone or hurricane get its energy?
A)in the heat and moisture rising from a low-pressure cell of the tropical 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)in the dry, cool air coming from a low-pressure cell of an adjacent ocean

Accepted Answer

Tropical cyclones or hurricanes derive their energy from the heat and moisture that is released when warm ocean water evaporates and rises from a low-pressure system over tropical seas. This process fuels the storm's intensity and development.

Question 3

Which of these coastal effects 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

Accepted Answer

Large storm surges are primarily caused by the strong winds of a hurricane pushing water towards the shore, not by heavy rain.

Question 4

What percentage people who die in hurricanes drown because of river floods near the coast?
A)less than 5 percent
B)around 20 percent
C)around 35 percent
D)around 60 percent
E)around 80 percent

Accepted Answer

The answer of What percentage people who die in hurricanes...

Question 5

Ninety-five percent of ____ output from the Gulf of Mexico, the largest domestic source, was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina.
A)fisheries
B)hydroelectric power
C)nuclear power
D)coal
E)petroleum

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Katrina caused significant disruption to petroleum output in the Gulf of Mexico, which is the largest domestic source of petroleum in the United States.

Question 6

Where are the highest winds in a hurricane?
A)within the eye
B)along the edge of the eye wall
C)half-way between the eye and the outer edge
D)at the outer edge
E)winds speeds are about equal everywhere within a hurricane

Accepted Answer

The highest winds in a hurricane are found along the edge of the eye wall, where the most intense and destructive winds occur as air moves inward towards the low pressure center and then is forced upward.

Question 7

Why are lower, smaller sand dunes less desirable than higher, larger sand dunes?
A)Lower dunes promote more erosion because there is not as much dune sand to absorb wave energy.
B)Lower dunes cannot prevent waves washing over the dunes to strike the homes.
C)Lower dunes promote the formation of riptides.
D)Lower dunes block the wind in unnatural ways, causing more damage to surrounding homes.
E)Lower dunes are difficult to naturally revegetate.

Accepted Answer

Lower dunes promote more erosion because there is not as much dune sand to absorb wave energy.

Question 8

What local conditions will raise the height of a storm surge at the beach?
A)a surge moving into a bay
B)a fast-moving hurricane
C)a slow-moving hurricane
D)coastal vegetation, such as thick groves of mangroves
E)low sand dunes

Accepted Answer

The answer of What local conditions will raise the height...

Question 9

When do most hurricanes develop (which months), and why?
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 and August, because those are the hottest months
D)August and September, because it takes all summer to warm the ocean
E)November and December, because it takes all year to warm the ocean

Accepted Answer

Hurricanes most commonly develop in August and September. This is because it takes the entire summer for the ocean waters to reach their warmest temperatures, which then provide the energy necessary for hurricane formation. Warm ocean waters are a key ingredient in the development of hurricanes, as they fuel the storms with moisture and heat.

Question 10

Why are hurricanes becoming more frequent?
A)Climate change is causing more rainfall in equatorial areas.
B)Climate change is causing more low pressure cells that cause hurricanes.
C)Climate change is causing ocean temperature to increase.
D)Climate change is causing increasing wind speed in the Pacific.
E)Actually, they are not; we are just better at detecting and reporting them. ​

Accepted Answer

Warmer ocean temperatures due to climate change provide more energy for hurricanes, making them more frequent and intense.

Question 11

How does faster forward speed of a hurricane affect 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 ​

Accepted Answer

A faster forward speed of a hurricane typically results in a higher-level storm surge due to the increased momentum pushing water toward the coast. However, it also tends to result in less rain since the hurricane moves over areas more quickly, reducing the time for precipitation to accumulate.

Question 12

What shape of roof is most resistant to hurricane winds?
A)one shaped like an airplane wing
B)a gently sloping roof with one slope facing toward the wind
C)one with a large span
D)a roof that slopes to all sides with overhangs
E)a roof that slopes to all sides without overhangs

Accepted Answer

A roof that slopes to all sides without overhangs is most resistant to hurricane winds because it allows wind to flow over it smoothly, reducing uplift forces and minimizing wind pressure on the structure.

Question 13

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)waters in near-equatorial latitudes off the west coast of Africa
E)in the steamy jungles of the Congo, in western Africa

Accepted Answer

Hurricanes striking North America typically originate from waters in near-equatorial latitudes off the west coast of Africa, where warm ocean waters and atmospheric conditions are conducive to the development of tropical storms that can intensify into hurricanes.

Question 14

Which type of damage does NOT typically accompany a hurricane's storm surge?
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.

Accepted Answer

Heavy sand deposition on beaches, partly burying some homes, is not typically a result of a hurricane's storm surge. Instead, storm surges are more known for their destructive capabilities, such as washing away structures and eroding landscapes, rather than depositing heavy sand in a manner that partly buries homes.

Question 15

Why are houses in hurricane-susceptible areas generally on tall posts?
A)to keep them above the high tide level
B)to keep them above the expected storm-surge level
C)to allow blowing sand to go under them
D)to keep them above the strongest winds
E)to provide less wind resistance

Accepted Answer

Houses in hurricane-susceptible areas are generally on tall posts to keep them above the expected storm-surge level, which is a rise in seawater level caused by a storm's winds pushing water onshore, significantly increasing the risk of flooding. This design helps protect the structure and its occupants from water damage during hurricanes.

Question 16

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are skies clear in the eye...

Question 17

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.
C)The winds are moving offshore there, so there is no onshore surge or wave effects.
D)The winds are moving offshore there, 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, causing the greatest surge and wind effects.

Accepted Answer

The winds on the south side of a westward-moving hurricane are moving offshore, which reduces the impact of onshore surge or wave effects, leading to generally less storm damage in that area.

Question 18

What is the average forward speed of a hurricane (how fast does it approach the coast)?
A)about 5 km/hour
B)about 25 km/hour
C)about 100 km/hour
D)about 200 km/hour
E)about 500 km/hour

Accepted Answer

The average forward speed of a hurricane as it approaches the coast is about 25 km/hour. This speed can vary depending on the specific storm and environmental conditions, but 25 km/hour is a typical average speed.

Question 19

Where in a hurricane is the atmospheric pressure lowest, and approximately what is that pressure?
A)lowest in the zone of high winds, just outside the eye; about 950 millibars
B)lowest just outside the eye wall; about 920 millibars
C)lowest in the eye; about 960-970 millibars
D)lowest in the eye; about 1200-1300 millibars
E)lowest in the zone of high winds, midway between the eye and its outer fringes; about 900-910 millibars ​

Accepted Answer

The atmospheric pressure is lowest in the eye of a hurricane, where it can drop to about 960-970 millibars. This low pressure is what drives the high winds and severe weather around the eye.

Question 20

Which factor does NOT contribute to increased height of a storm surge?
A)low atmospheric pressure
B)strong hurricane winds
C)fetch
D)shallow water
E)deep water

Accepted Answer

Deep water does not contribute to increased height of a storm surge. Storm surges are higher in shallow water because the energy of the storm has a smaller volume of water to act upon, leading to a greater increase in water level.

Quiz 16: Hurricanes and nor Easters

Which roofing design is the most hurricane-resistant?

Where does a tropical cyclone or hurricane get its energy?

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

What percentage people who die in hurricanes drown because of river floods near the coast?

Ninety-five percent of ____ output from the Gulf of Mexico, the largest domestic source, was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina.

Where are the highest winds in a hurricane?

Why are lower, smaller sand dunes less desirable than higher, larger sand dunes?

What local conditions will raise the height of a storm surge at the beach?

When do most hurricanes develop (which months) , and why?

Why are hurricanes becoming more frequent?

How does faster forward speed of a hurricane affect coastal areas?

What shape of roof is most resistant to hurricane winds?

Where do hurricanes striking North America originate?

Which type of damage does NOT typically accompany a hurricane's storm surge?

Why are houses in hurricane-susceptible areas generally on tall posts?

Why are skies clear in the eye of a hurricane?

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

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

Where in a hurricane is the atmospheric pressure lowest, and approximately what is that pressure?

Which factor does NOT contribute to increased height of a storm surge?