Hurricane Structure
All hurricanes are different, some are massive and destructive, while others die off before they can create catastrophes. Hurricanes occur mostly in tropical regions, and in areas that are most commonly effected by hurricanes. For example, Florida is often hit with hurricanes because of the winds traveling off the coast of Africa. California may experience hurricanes from the winds off the coast of Central and South America. Hurricanes traveling off the coast of Africa can hit Florida, and get caught up in the westerly winds, resulting in showers in Europe.
Hurricanes need humidity and evaporation to survive, causing them to be more common towards water and coasts. They are an example of rapid convection, because as a column of air heats up, it rises, creating an extremely low pressure system. The adjacent areas around this low pressure system have very high pressure in comparison, causing wind to circulate from high to low pressure, counter clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere (due to the Coriolis Effect). The eye is often the calmest part of a hurricane. As air is rising in a hurricane, creating a low pressure system, it begins to cool once it rises far enough. |
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Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Strength Categories
Category 1: 74-95 mph "Very dangerous"
Category 2: 96-110 mph "Extremely dangerous"
Category 3 (major): 110-129 mph "Devastating"
Category 4 (major): 130-156 mph "Catastrophic"
Category 5 (major): 157 or higher "Catastrophic"
Category 2: 96-110 mph "Extremely dangerous"
Category 3 (major): 110-129 mph "Devastating"
Category 4 (major): 130-156 mph "Catastrophic"
Category 5 (major): 157 or higher "Catastrophic"