Question

1.) How do hurricanes form?

2.) How are hurricanes classified?
3.) What kind of damage can hurricanes cause?

Answer 1

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters and develop into powerful storms due to the warm air rising and condensing. They are classified using the Saffir-Simpson Scale based on sustained wind speed. Hurricanes cause destruction through high winds, rain, and storm surges, and are particularly dangerous due to their strength and potential for widespread damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

How Do Hurricanes Form?

Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters that are at least 80 °F. The process starts when warm, moist air rises rapidly, creating a low pressure area beneath. Nearby air flows into this low pressure zone, fueling the storm as it replaces the rising warm air. As the air continues to ascend, it cools and condenses to form clouds and precipitation. The Earth’s rotation imparts a spinning motion to the system, causing cyclonic rotation (counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere).

How Are Hurricanes Classified?

Hurricanes are classified by the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which rates them from 1 to 5, with category 5 being the most dangerous. This rating is based on the hurricane's sustained wind speed. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm at wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph, and then classified as a hurricane when winds reach a sustained speed of 74 mph or higher.

Damage Caused by Hurricanes

Hurricanes can cause widespread devastation, including structural damage from high winds, flooding from storm surges and heavy rainfall, and long-term economic impacts. The power of a hurricane scales as the cube of wind velocity, which explains why even small increases in wind speed can result in disproportionately larger damage.

Why Do Hurricanes Mainly Occur in the Tropics?

Hurricanes are predominantly a tropical phenomenon because they require the warm ocean waters found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to form and strengthen.

The Danger of Hurricanes

The potential danger of hurricanes lies in their capacity for extreme winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, leading to catastrophic damage to infrastructure, ecosystems, and loss of human life.

Answer 2

1. Hurricanes form when warm moist air over water begins to rise like the rising air is replaced by cooler air.

2. Hurricanes are classified using wind scale — a 1 to 5.

3. A hurricane can cause a number of serious hazards, like heavy rains, high winds, a storm surge, and even tornadoes.