Question

Hurricanes are a type of cyclone. They are cyclones that form in the tropics and so they are also called tropical cyclones. By any name, they are the most damaging storms on Earth.

Formation

Hurricanes form in the tropical latitudes (between 10oand 25oN) in summer and autumn when sea surface temperature warm enough. The warm seas create a large humid air mass. The warm air rises and forms a low pressure cell, known as a tropical depression.Thunderstorms form around the tropical depression.



If the temperature reaches or exceeds 28oC (82oF), the air begins to rotate around the low pressure (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere). As the air rises,water vapor condenses, releasing energy into the storm. Under the right wind conditions, the storm builds into a hurricane within two to three days.

Hurricanes are huge and produce high winds. The exception is the relatively calm eye of the storm, where air is rising upward. Rainfall can be as high as 2.5 cm (1") per hour, resulting in about 20 billion metric tons of water released daily in a hurricane. Hurricanes can also cause tornadoes.



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Damage

Damage from hurricanes comes from the high winds, rainfall, and storm surge. Storm surge occurs as the storm's low pressure center comes onto land, causing the sea level to rise unusually high. A storm surge is often made worse by the hurricane's high winds blowing seawater across the ocean onto the shoreline. Flooding can be devastating, especially along low-lying coastlines such as the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

Forecasting Hurricane Routes



Scientists have always struggled with how to best predict the strength and path of a hurricane. Making these predictions can help save lives and decrease the likelihood of property damage. While predicting the intensity of a hurricane is still too difficult for scientists to do effectively, predicting a storm’s path has become more efficient than ever.



Scientists create digital models of the atmosphere as a 3D grid. The grid is made of cubes and each cube has a temperature, pressure, and humidity. As if a wind was blowing through the cubes, each cube talks to its neighbor. Because the atmosphere behaves like a fluid, once you know each cube’s information, you can use mathematics to determine the likely path of the hurricane. For example, we know that high pressure moves to low pressure, so we can determine direction based on that.



Despite having more data than ever, models do not perfectly predict a storm’s path. The main reason is that scientists do not know what the atmosphere looked like when the tropical storm started. Over land, there are many places where scientists are taking constant readings of the earth’s atmosphere. Over the ocean, there are fewer places. Scientists rely on satellites, which have limitations; they cannot see through clouds for example.





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Scientists make computer models called spaghetti plots to show the potential paths of a tropical storm. Each line of the model shows a potential path the storm may take, depending on the atmospheric conditions. As the scientists gather more data, they can remove or change the lines to show current predictions. As long as the scientists keep a line on the map, there is at least some potential that the hurricane may go along that path.





Three-Level Reading Guide: Hurricanes

1. Type a plus (+) next to the statements that say what the reading says. Type a minus (-) next to statements that do not. Cite text-based evidence to support your answer.



___ a. Tropical depressions form when warm air from the sea rises, condenses into clouds, and releases energy.



___ b. In a spaghetti plot, scientists use lines to show possible paths of a tropical storm. As long as a line remains on the map, there is potential for the storm to go that direction.



___ c. The eye of the storm is the most dangerous part, where air is falling downward.





2. Type a plus (+) next to the statements that you think represent the intended meaning of the reading. Type a minus (-) next to statements that do not.



___ a. Hurricanes are not common in the winter and spring because the surface temperature of the water is not warm enough.



___ b. The biggest challenge to create accurate predictions for hurricane paths is the amount of data available.



___ c. Storm surge can be defined as flooding due to the storm’s low pressure center coming onto the land.





3. Read the statements below and finish them using ideas from the text.



The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development because (reason)











The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development, but (opposite)











The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development, so (prediction or outcome)

Answer 1

Type a plus (+) next to the statements that say what the reading says. Type a minus (-) next to statements that do not. Cite text-based evidence to support your answer.

a. Tropical depressions form when warm air from the sea rises, condenses into clouds, and releases energy. ( "The warm seas create a large humid air mass. The warm air rises and forms a low pressure cell, known as a tropical depression. Thunderstorms form around the tropical depression.")

b. In a spaghetti plot, scientists use lines to show possible paths of a tropical storm. As long as a line remains on the map, there is potential for the storm to go that direction. ("Each line of the model shows a potential path the storm may take, depending on the atmospheric conditions. As the scientists gather more data, they can remove or change the lines to show current predictions. As long as the scientists keep a line on the map, there is at least some potential that the hurricane may go along that path.")

c. The eye of the storm is the most dangerous part, where air is falling downward. (This statement is incorrect. The eye of the storm is relatively calm, and air is rising upward.)

Type a plus (+) next to the statements that you think represent the intended meaning of the reading. Type a minus (-) next to statements that do not.

a. Hurricanes are not common in the winter and spring because the surface temperature of the water is not warm enough. ("Hurricanes form in the tropical latitudes (between 10oand 25oN) in summer and autumn when sea surface temperature warm enough.")

b. The biggest challenge to create accurate predictions for hurricane paths is the amount of data available. ("Despite having more data than ever, models do not perfectly predict a storm’s path. The main reason is that scientists do not know what the atmosphere looked like when the tropical storm started.")

c. Storm surge can be defined as flooding due to the storm’s low pressure center coming onto the land. ("Storm surge occurs as the storm's low pressure center comes onto land, causing the sea level to rise unusually high.")

Read the statements below and finish them using ideas from the text.

The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development, but it is not the only factor. There are other variables that can affect hurricane formation and strength, such as wind conditions and moisture in the atmosphere.

The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development because it drives the circulation of warm, moist air that powers the storm. As warm air rises and cools, it releases heat energy, which fuels the storm and helps it to grow stronger.

The movement of energy is a big part of hurricane development, so accurately predicting the movement and intensity of a storm can help to save lives and minimize property damage. By using digital models and gathering data from satellites and other sources, scientists can create more accurate predictions for where a storm will go and how strong it will be.

Step-by-step explanation:

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