TROPICAL CYCLONES o Characteristics Of A Tropical Cyclone

TROPICAL CYCLONES o Characteristics Of A Tropical Cyclone o Formation Of Tropical Cyclones o Human Impact o Human Response o Paths And Damage

Characteristics Of A Cyclone • The Eye Wall • The Spiral Rain Bands • The eye wall • The Spiral Rain Bands The eye is characterized by light winds and often clear skies. The diameter of the eye is often 40 km but can range from under 10 km to over 100 km The eye wall is a dense ring of cloud which is approximately 16 km high. It marks the region of strongest winds and heaviest rainfall These are bands of heavy convective showers which spiral inwards towards the eye

Formation Of A Cyclone Tropical cyclones form • In The Summer Season • Over water above 26. 5° • Between 8° and 15° north and south of the equator because the coriollis effect is to weak between 8° north and south • Only if the following environmental factors are present. 1. 1) An atmosphere that cools quickly with height so that it is potentially unstable. If the air is unstable, it will continue rising and the disturbance will grow 2. 2) An upper atmosphere high pressure system above the storm should be present. Because air in high pressure systems flow outwards this encourages air from lower levels to rise

Human Impact • Storm Surge • Strong Winds strong enough to bend metal power poles The rapid rise in sea level as a cyclone approaches the coast • Heavy Rainfall Can cause flooding that towns cannot handle excess runoff because of gentle topography

Human Response Humans have responded to tropical cyclones by preparing themselves by Some towns in tropical cyclone risk areas • Fitting window shutters • Don’t have letterboxes • Preparing emergency kits • Have strict building guidelines • Cyclone proofing structures • Have metal power poles • Clearing debris and other hazards when a warning is issued In order to minimize harm to humans during a cyclone • Staying inside during a cyclone

Cyclone Paths And Damage