Question

In this diagram of Hurricane Maria, it weakens from a Category 4 to a Category 3.

Which of the following could account for the weakening of hurricanes when they reach the Atlantic Ocean? Ocean waters in the Atlantic . .

Question 1 options:

decrease in temperature.

increase in temperature.

decrease in salinity.

increase in salinity.

Answer 1

(a) decrease in temperature

Step-by-step explanation:

You want to know a possible reason for the weakening of Hurricane Maria as it moves toward the northwest from the Leeward Islands.

Hurricane

A hurricane is a tropical storm fueled by rising warm moist air. When the air is no longer warm or moist, the hurricane loses strength.

As Hurricane Maria moves toward the northwest, the ocean water under it becomes cooler. The decrease in temperature causes the hurricane to weaken.

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Additional comment

Hurricanes rapidly lose strength when they reach land, as there is no source of warm moist air there.