What are some currents that effect hurricanes.?

Question

I am looking for either a cool one that slows them down, a warm one that speeds them up, or both. Right now I have some ideas, but I am looking for more insite. Are there even currents that really effect the hrricanes; or it it just the warm water by the equator, and the convection currents that creates? Thanks

Answer 1

The Gulf Stream is an important current but as far as hurricanes go there are two main steering factors. Hurricanes are created as a small collection of thunderstorms over warm ocean waters. Once formed, they are at the mercy of the weather systems. Hurricanes have no forward motion, they only spin in a circle and move where the wind tells them to. Once a hurricane moves west across the Atlantic, where it hits depends on what the weather does and where the different fronts and high pressure areas are located.

The other important factor is the Coriolis Effect. This is caused by the rotation of the Earth and causes air and currents to curve north of the equator in the Northern hemisphere and south of the equator in the southern hemisphere. The Coriolis Effect pushes the hurricane to the northwest from the equator and the weather steers it the rest of the way.

Hurricanes tend to slow down over open water tend to get bigger. Again, this is all dependent on the weather and how hard the wind is blowing. Winds can also shear a hurricane apart and cause it to break apart if they are blowing right. And of course, wind is caused by convection currents. So the water plays an important part, but the weather patterns are the deciding factor.

Answer 2

Hurricanes occur in the northern hemisphere and over warm, temperate waters. An example of a current like this is the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream affects Hurricanes by providing them with "energy". As the hurricane moves north, it moves over colder waters and loses energy.

Answer 3

The Gulf Stream plays a large role in providing warm water to allow hurricanes to form in the Atlantic. Here's a great link if you want to know more (probably wayy more than you ever wanted to know LOL) about the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic currents.

http://coastalguide.com/bearings/gulfstream3.shtml

Answer 4

The Gulf Stream is hot, and speeds up hurricanes

Answer 5

i dont know how to answer that question, but this week i watched the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" by al gore and he gave a good explanation. I heard that he may win a nobel peace prize for that movie. its about global warming, but he did give explanations about hurricanes. best to you

Answer 6

To learn more about how hurricanes are formed, and sped up, or slowed down try beginning with these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect_storm
http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect

Good luck with your quest