Four General Questions
What causes the storms in Africa that become hurricanes?
As storms move westardly by easterly winds across Africa warm air cause a low pressure which moves over the Atlantic ocean. Warm air from rising from the ocean pushes the storm upwards and due to the earth’s rotation begins to spin clockwise. The storm continues to build as long as winds above aren’t powerful enough cut open the storm. Air moves faster and faster as it develops further.
What defines tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes?
A tropical depression is a low pressure area that is developing , wind speeds less than 39MPH. Anything faster but before 73MPH is classified as tropical storm, anything above is considered a hurricane.
What moves these storms toward North America?
Light and uniform Easterly windes moving across the Equator towards North America.
What causes the growth of the storm from a tropical depression to a hurricane?
As the depression moves further across the ocean it picks up more and more moisture. This moist air condenses as it rises through the hurricane and eventually precipitates down. In addition to warmer water temperatures and low over head air velocity allowing for further expansion.
Four Specific Questions (from ten hurricane seasons: 2000-2009)
Over the last ten years how many hurricanes have developed in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico? 76 Hurricanes have developed over the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico from 2000-2009
How many and what are the names of the hurricanes that occurred in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico from the year with the lowest number of hurricanes (2000-2009)? 3 from 2009 Hurricane Bill, Hurricane Fred, Hurricane Ida -
How many and what are the names of the hurricanes that occurred in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico from the year with the highest number of hurricanes (2000-2009)? 15 from 2005 Hurricane Cindy, Hurricane Dennis, Hurricane Emily, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Ophelia, Hurricane Philippe, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Stan, Hurricane Vince, Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Beta, Hurricane Epsilon
From its origin as a tropical depression to the end of its track, how many days did the storms that became hurricanes last for the years with the lowest number and highest number of hurricanes (2000-2009)? Hurricane Epsilon - 10 days, Hurricane Beta – 7 Days, Hurricane Wilma – 11 days, Hurricane Vince – 3 Days, Hurricane Stan – 5 Days, Hurricane Rita – 8 Days, Hurricane Philippe – 6 Days, Hurricane Ophelia – 11 Days, Hurricane Nate – 5 Days, Hurricane Maria – 9 Days, Hurricane Katrina – 7 Days, Hurricane Irene – 14 Days, Hurricane Emily – 10 Days, Hurricane Dennis – 9 Days, Hurricane Cindy – 4 Days, Hurricane Ida – 6 Days, Hurricane Fred – 5 Days, Hurricane Bill – 9 Days