2007-09-04 09:18:38 · 8 answers · asked by Urrka N Da CLuB 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Seems like this question comes up very frequently.
A hurricane most often develops from a weak low level (lowest 5 km of the atmosphere) trough of low pressure moving west from northern Africa. This trough will increase thunderstorm activity as it moves across the warm Atlantic waters where there are no fronts and the atmosphere is a homogeneous warm and moist environment. The heat and moisture of the open ocean is needed to develop and sustain thunderstorms.
If a cluster of thunderstorms sustain themselves over time within this low pressure trough, they will slowly begin to rotate due to the Coriolis force (caused by the rotation of the earth). After this cluster of storms form a closed circulation, it is referred to a tropical depression. If the system continues to develop and sustain itself, it will slowly increase in intensity (as winds increase and pressure in the center of rotation lowers) to the extent it has a sustained closed circulation of sustained winds of 34 knots or more, it is then a tropical cyclone and a name is assigned to the storm. If it increases to or above sustained winds of 64 knots they are then called a hurricane.
Due to the vast amount of energy (in the form of evaporated water from the ocean) needed for the formation and intensification of a tropical system, it has to be over the ocean. Once it reaches a large land mass, it will weaken since the plentiful source of evaporated water is removed.
2007-09-04 10:52:16 · answer #1 · answered by Water 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sun heats up tropical waters to at least 82F, which causes the air (vapors) to grow hotter and rise. The heated air begins circling counterclockwise at increasing speeds.
2007-09-04 09:25:38 · answer #2 · answered by darkshadows9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://library.thinkquest.org/C001472/neen/hurricanes/development.html
2007-09-04 09:24:10 · answer #3 · answered by prettynpink0491 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hurricane ...well get a cup of ice pour in some scotch and whiskey and some lemonade and some coca cola and poor in alot of vodka ...and after you drink this you ll forget about this question
2007-09-04 09:25:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
hot front chases the cold front and the cold chasing back the hot front causing a hurricane
2007-09-04 09:22:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Water is correct.
2007-09-04 15:49:28 · answer #6 · answered by Smartassawhip 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html
2007-09-04 09:38:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ask the same question and NO smart people answer!!
2007-09-04 09:22:22 · answer #8 · answered by Lola 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋