Hurricanes
What kind of water does a hurricane need?
warm, ocean water
_______________ currents- the upper 200 meters of the ocean and caused mainly by ____________ (wind or density).
Places close to the equator tend to be __________________________, while places closer to the poles tend to be ______________________.
warmer; cooler
When a material is heated, particles move _____________ (faster or slower) and particles get ___________________ (closer together or farther apart).
faster; farther apart
Of the following places, which is most likely to have a hurricane?
-Nebraska
-Kansas
-Florida
Florida
________________________ currents-are caused by differences in _______________(wind or density). This system of currents is sometimes called the global conveyor belt.
Deep ocean; density
In the Northern Hemisphere, wind and ocean currents curve ______________________(right or left), and in the Southern Hemisphere, wind and ocean currents curve ______________________________(right or left).
right; left
When a material is cooled, particles move _____________ (faster or slower) and particles get ___________________ (closer together or farther apart).
slower; get closer together
What temperature does the ocean need to be for a hurricane to occur?
at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The _________________ is the curve of the path of objects or fluids due to Earth’s rotation.
Coriolis Effect
The east coast tends to have ____________________ (warmer or cooler) currents, so the east coast climates tend to be _________________________ (warmer or cooler).
warmer; warmer
Explain how a hurricane forms. Think about what ingredients are needed and how those ingredients interact.
A hurricane forms when certain conditions are met. There needs to be warm, ocean water that is at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer the water the more energy there is for the hurricane. Some of this warm water will evaporate and the water cycle will occur. Warm air will rise and cooler air will rush underneath. Additionally, winds must be at least 74 miles per hour.
For a hurricane to occur, winds need to be at least ___________.
74 miles per hour
Hot water or air tends to _____________________ (rise or sink) because it is ______________________ (more or less) dense.
rise; less
The west coast tends to have ____________________ (warmer or cooler) currents, so the west coast climates tend to be ________________________ (warmer or cooler).
cooler; cooler
Explain whether Florida or Kansas is more likely to get a hurricane and why?
Florida is more likely to get a hurricane than Kansas. Florida is surrounded by water on three sides and is a peninsula. Hurricanes need warm, ocean air to form. Kansas is surrounded by land on all sides, so a hurricane cannot occur here.
Hurricanes are categorized based on ____________________.
wind speeds
Cold water or air tends to ______________________ (rise or sink) because it is ______________________ (more or less) dense.
sink; more
It is predicted hurricanes will become ____________________ (more or less intense) in the future due to _____________________________.
more intense; climate change
Why is Florida generally warmer than California?
Florida is generally warmer than California because of ocean currents. Florida is on the east coast, and a warm current passes it. California is on the west coast, and a cool current passes it.