Homework 8

This homework set is due on Wednesday, November 16 at the beginning of the lecture.

 

  1. Which has higher wind speeds--a tornado or a hurricane? Which generally inflicts more SEVERE damage--a tornado or a hurricane? Which kind of storm causes more WIDESPREAD damage?
     
  2. Why do hurricanes require cool, moist air in the middle troposphere? (Be sure to mention why the air should be cool, and why the air should be moist.)
     
  3. Why do hurricanes require warm water at the surface? (This question has two parts: why must there be WATER at the surface, and why must it be WARM?)
     
  4. About how many hurricanes and "named storms" occur in the North Atlantic every year?
     
  5. Give a typical pressure at the center of a hurricane, in millibars.
     
  6. Why do hurricanes require fairly unstable conditions?
     
  7. Which type of storm requires wind shear--a hurricane or a tornado?
     
  8. What time of year is the peak of hurricane season in the North Atlantic?
     
  9. What category was Hurricane Katrina at landfall?  What category was Hurricane Andrew at landfall?  (You might have to search on the web for this answer--if so, document your source.)  For each of the storms, tell me how great the winds were at landfall.