Tropical storms

Tropical storms

1. What is a tropical storm?

   • A tropical storm is a huge storm that develops in the Tropics.
   • Tropical storms are incredibly powerful and can cause devastation to small islands and coastal regions.

2. Where do tropical storms form?

   • Tropical storms over warm oceans ( above 27'C ), which explains why they are found in the Tropics.
   • They form in the summer and autumn when sea temperatures are at their highest.
   • Most tropical storms form 5-15' north and south of the Equator. This is because at the Equator there is not enough 'spin' from the rotation of the Earth. A tropical storm is a spinning mass of clouds.
   • The intense heat makes the air unstable causing it to rise rapidly.

3. How do tropical storms form?

   • 1. A strong upward movemnt of air draws water vapour up from the warm ocean surface.
     • 2. This evaporated air cools as it rises and condenses to form towering thunderstorm clouds.
     • 3. As the air condenses it releases heat which powers the storm and draws up more and more water from the ocean.
     • 4. Several other thunderstorms join together to form a giant spinning storm. When the winds reach an average of 120km per hour the storm officially becomes a tropical storm.
     • 5. On reaching land the storm's energy supply ( evaporated water ) is cut off. Friction with the land slows it down and it begins to weaken.