Deck 16: Hurricanes

Question 1

It is impossible for a hurricane to form in the tropical North Atlantic or North Pacific during December.​

Answer 1

False

Question 2

​Which of the following is the least likely characteristic of an easterly wave?

A) ​moves from east to west
B) ​has converging winds on its western side
C) showers and thunderstorms may be found on its eastern side
D) ​indicates a region of lower-than-average pressure
E) ​is a tropical wave

Answer 2

B

Question 3

North Atlantic hurricanes are more likely to form in October than in May.​

Answer 3

True

Question 4

If the circumstances are right, it is possible for a hurricane to form over land.​

Question 5

​A hurricane that once began to weaken can strengthen again, if it moves over a body of warm water.

Question 6

​Suppose the eye of a hurricane passed directly over you, and you survived the experience. If winds were from the northeast as the eyewall first approached you, from what direction did the winds blow when the eyewall reached you the second time?

A) ​NW
B) ​NE
C) ​SE
D) ​SW
E) ​N

Question 7

There is a limit to the intensity of hurricanes.

Question 8

​Computer models of hurricanes almost always agree on their predictions of a hurricane's movement and evolution.

Question 9

​As it is warm all year long in the tropics, the weather is not characterized by four seasons which, for the most part, are determined by temperature variations.

Question 10

Most hurricanes move westward over tropical waters.​

Question 11

Hurricanes have strong divergence at their tops.

Question 12

Before hurricanes and tropical storms were assigned names, they were identified according to their latitude and longitude.​

Question 13

​Suppose a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico moves westward across Central America and out over the Pacific. If the storm maintains tropical storm strength the entire time, it will be given a new name once it moves over the Pacific Ocean.

Question 14

​Streamlines on a weather map depict

A) ​water temperature.
B) pressure.
C) ​wind flow.
D) ​dew point.
E) ​ocean currents.

Question 15

Streamlines, rather than isobars, are used on surface weather maps in the tropics because they show where surface air converges and diverges.​

Question 16

​Suppose this year five tropical storms develop into full-fledged hurricanes over the North Atlantic Ocean. The name of the third hurricane will definitely begin with the letter C.

Question 17

In order for a hurricane to form, the layer of warm water must extend from the ocean surface to a depth of at least 400 meters.​

Question 18

​Most hurricanes have fronts.

Question 19

A visible satellite image can be important in determining whether a developing hurricane will continue to strengthen.​

Question 20

The ocean surface water temperature is usually cooler after the passage of a hurricane.​

Question 21

​Which is least likely to be a condition conducive to the formation of hurricanes?

A) ​a region of converging surface winds at the surface
B) ​warm water
C) ​strong upper-level winds
D) ​cold air aloft
E) ​moist, humid surface air

Question 22

​The main source of energy for a hurricane is the

A) ​upper-level jet stream.
B) ​rising of warm air and sinking of cold air in the vicinity of weather fronts.
C) ​warm ocean water and release of latent heat of condensation.
D) ​ocean currents and tides.
E) ​solar radiation.

Question 23

​The first three stages of a developing hurricane are (from first stage to third stage)

A) ​tropical disturbance, tropical storm, and typhoon.
B) ​tropical depression, tropical disturbance, and tropical storm.
C) ​tropical disturbance, tropical depression, and tropical storm.
D) ​cyclone, typhoon, and tropical storm.
E) ​typhoon, cyclone, and tropical storm.

Question 24

​Which statement below concerning hurricanes is the least correct?

A) ​They may contain tornadoes.
B) ​They may contain severe thunderstorms.
C) ​A hurricane moving northward over the eastern Pacific will normally survive for a longer time than one moving north over the Atlantic.
D) ​A weakening hurricane can move up to middle latitudes and turn into a mid-latitude cyclone.
E) ​The energy for a hurricane comes from the direct transfer of sensible heat and latent heat from the warm ocean surface.

Question 25

​In a hurricane, the eye wall represents

A) ​the exact center of the storm.
B) ​the area of broken cloudiness at the center.
C) ​a region of light winds and low pressure.
D) ​a zone of intense thunderstorms around the center.
E) ​a layer of cirrus cloud in the center of the storm.

Question 26

​At the periphery of a hurricane, the air ____, and several kilometers above the surface, in the eye, the air ____.

A) ​sinks; sinks
B) ​is stationary; rises
C) ​rises; is stationary
D) ​rises; rises
E) ​sinks; rises

Question 27

​Hurricanes are least likely to form

A) ​along the ITCZ.
B) ​along the equator.
C) ​with an easterly wave.
D) ​when the trade wind inversion is weak.
E) ​when the surface water temperature exceeds 25 $\degree$ C.

Question 28

​In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes and middle latitude cyclones are similar in that both

A) ​have surface weather fronts.
B) ​intensify with increasing height above the ground.
C) ​have winds that blow counterclockwise around their centers.
D) ​will generally move from west to east.
E) ​have winds that blow clockwise around their centers.

Question 29

​Which would you least expect to observe as the eye of a hurricane passes directly over your area?

A) ​an increase in surface temperature
B) ​a very low surface pressure reading
C) ​high winds
D) ​little or no precipitation
E) ​an area relatively free of clouds

Question 30

​Which event only forms over water?

A) ​thunderstorms
B) ​funnel clouds
C) ​tornadoes
D) ​mesocyclones
E) ​hurricanes

Question 31

​Hurricanes dissipate when

A) ​when they move over warmer water.
B) ​when they move over land.
C) ​when surface inflow of air is lower than upper-level outflow of air.
D) ​immediately on December 1st.
E) ​when surface winds converge.

Question 32

​The strongest winds in a hurricane are found

A) ​at the center of the storm.
B) ​in the eye wall.
C) ​in the rain bands.
D) ​at upper levels, above the center of the hurricane.
E) ​near the periphery of the hurricane.

Question 33

​As surface air rushes in toward the eye of a hurricane, the air expands and should cool. The main reason the surface air is not cooler around the eye is because

A) ​the sinking air near the eye warms the air.
B) ​friction with the water adds heat to the air.
C) ​the warm water heats the air.
D) ​sunlight heats the air.
E) ​the spinning motion prevents air from rising or sinking.

Question 34

​The vertical structure of the hurricane shows an upper-level ____ of air, and a surface ____ of air.

A) ​outflow; inflow
B) ​stagnation; outflow
C) ​inflow; outflow
D) ​inflow; inflow
E) ​stagnation; inflow

Question 35

​The main difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm is that

A) ​hurricanes are larger.
B) ​tropical storms are more than 500 miles from the U.S. mainland.
C) ​winds speeds are greater in a hurricane.
D) ​hurricanes have a clearly defined eye on satellite photographs.
E) ​tropical storms deliver more moisture.

Question 36

​The main reason hurricanes don't develop over the South Atlantic Ocean adjacent to South America is because the

A) ​Coriolis force is too small there.
B) ​pressure gradient force is too weak in that area.
C) ​surface water temperatures are too cold.
D) ​air at the surface is always diverging.
E) ​winds don't spin into the right direction.

Question 37

​Pressure at the center of a hurricane is ____ the surroundings at the surface and ____ than the surroundings aloft.

A) ​higher than; lower
B) ​lower than; higher
C) ​the same as; lower
D) ​higher than; higher
E) ​the same as; lower

Question 38

​Just before a storm becomes a fully developed hurricane, it is in the ____ stage.

A) ​tropical depression
B) ​tropical disturbance
C) ​tropical storm
D) ​cyclone
E) ​typhoon

Question 39

​As a northward-moving hurricane passes to the east of an area, surface winds should change from

A) ​NW to N to NE.
B) ​W to SW to S.
C) ​NE to N to NW.
D) ​S to SW to W.
E) ​SE to S to SW.

Question 40

​Hurricane winds rotate in a clockwise direction

A) ​in the Northern Hemisphere only.
B) ​in the Southern Hemisphere only.
C) ​in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
D) ​in neither hemisphere.
E) ​depending on the season they occur in.

Question 41

​Which of the following is true?

A) ​Hurricanes are only given male names.
B) ​Hurricanes are only given female names.
C) ​Hurricanes are alternately assigned male and female names.
D) ​Atlantic hurricanes are given male names and Pacific hurricanes are given female names.
E) ​The naming system is totally random.

Question 42

​Hurricanes can't form along the equator because

A) ​there isn't much water along the equator, it's mostly land.
B) ​the Coriolis force is too small along the equator.
C) ​there are no feedback mechanisms along the equator.
D) ​it's too humid for the ocean water to evaporate.
E) ​the water temperature is too warm.

Question 43

​The energy for hurricanes comes from the transfer of ____ from the ocean surface to the atmosphere.

A) ​sensible heat and momentum
B) ​latent heat and momentum
C) ​infrared radiation and momentum
D) ​sensible heat and latent heat
E) ​moisture

Question 44

​A strong trade wind inversion is ____ the development of a hurricane.

A) ​conducive to
B) ​not conducive to
C) ​immaterial to
D) ​required for
E) ​fosters

Question 45

​Suppose that five of this year's tropical storms develop into hurricanes over the North Atlantic Ocean. The name of the third hurricane would start with the letter

A) ​A
B) ​B
C) ​C
D) ​D
E) ​impossible to know given only this information

Question 46

A favorable condition for hurricane development is a

A) ​deep layer of stable air.
B) ​shallow layer of absolutely unstable air.
C) ​shallow layer of conditionally unstable air.
D) ​deep layer of conditionally unstable air.
E) ​completely stable environment.

Question 47

​Surface winds in hurricanes typically reach a maximum in the

A) ​eye.
B) ​eyewall.
C) ​anvils.
D) ​spiral bands.
E) ​very outskirts of the storm.

Question 48

​Storms that form in the tropics are given names when

A) ​they reach tropical storm strength.
B) ​they become fully developed hurricanes.
C) ​they approach to within 250 miles of land.
D) ​rotation becomes visible on a satellite photograph.
E) ​as soon as they form.

Question 49

​Which below is the best indication that a hurricane will likely strike your area within 24 hours?

A) ​a hurricane watch issued by the National Weather Service
B) ​high cirrus clouds moving in from the east
C) ​a hurricane warning issued by the National Weather Service
D) ​easterly or northeasterly winds with speeds in excess of 30 knots
E) ​a rapid drop in pressure and heavy rains

Question 50

​The most costly hurricane ever to hit the United States was Hurricane

A) ​Ivan.
B) ​Katrina.
C) ​Wilma.
D) ​Andrew.
E) ​Camille.

Question 51

​A hurricane warning

A) ​gives the exact location where a hurricane will make landfall.
B) ​is usually issued a week ahead of a hurricane's arrival.
C) ​indicates that a hurricane will strike an area.
D) ​is issued when a hurricane approaches to within 500 miles of the U.S. mainland.
E) ​is issued whenever surface wind speeds exceed 74 mi/hr.

Question 52

​The strongest winds in a hurricane heading westward toward Florida would most likely be found on the ____ side.

A) ​northern
B) ​southern
C) ​eastern
D) ​western
E) ​southeastern

Question 53

​A storm of tropical origin whose high winds and water cause a great deal of destruction to islands in the western North Pacific is (in this part of the world) known as a

A) ​hurricane.
B) ​cyclone.
C) ​willy willy.
D) ​mesocyclone.
E) ​typhoon.

Question 54

​Most of the destruction caused by a hurricane is due to

A) ​high winds.
B) ​flooding.
C) ​tornadoes.
D) ​hail.
E) ​spinning winds.

Question 55

​On the Saffir-Simpson scale, a category 5 storm would indicate

A) ​a weak hurricane.
B) ​a moderately strong hurricane.
C) ​a very strong hurricane.
D) ​none of these; the Saffir-Simpson scale applies to tornadoes.
E) ​a moderate to strong hurricane.

Question 56

​Which method below describes how scientists have tried to modify hurricanes?

A) ​putting an oil slick over the ocean water and igniting it
B) ​seeding the hurricanes with silver iodide
C) ​igniting huge smoke bombs in the eye of the storm
D) ​seeding the hurricanes with hair-thin pieces of aluminum called chaff
E) ​cooling the ocean temperatures

Question 57

​The immense amounts of energy taken in by hurricanes are

A) ​converted to kinematic energy.
B) ​used in chemical substractions.
C) ​lost through convectional cooling at the top of the storm.
D) ​converted to kinetic energy and lost through radiational cooling
E) ​lost through hail.

Question 58

​Which of the following areas in the United States would most likely experience thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes during the course of one year?

A) ​Pacific Coast states
B) ​New England states
C) ​Gulf Coast states
D) ​Great Plains states
E) ​mountain states

Question 59

​The process by which a hurricane's innermost ring of clouds dissipates and then strengthens is called

A) ​landfall.
B) ​storm surge.
C) ​eyewall replacement.
D) ​spiral rainbands.
E) ​dissipation.

Question 60

​An intense storm of tropical origin that forms over the Pacific Ocean adjacent to the west coast of Mexico would be called a

A) ​hurricane.
B) ​typhoon.
C) ​cyclone.
D) ​willy willy.
E) ​baguio.

Question 61

If a hurricane is moving westward at 10 knots, its strongest winds will be on its ____________________ side.​

Question 62

​Hurricanes have been seeded with silver iodide to attempt to

A) ​minimize storm surges.
B) ​reduce their winds.
C) ​mitigate flooding.
D) ​make hurricanes dissipate immediately upon formation.
E) ​change their paths.

Question 63

​In the western North Pacific, hurricanes are called ____________________, in India ____________________, and in Australia ____________________.

Question 64

​Initially, the mass of thunderstorms with only a slight wind circulation is known as a(n) ____________________, or tropical wave. It becomes a(n) ____________________ when the winds increase to between 20 and 34 knots and several closed isobars appear about its center on a surface weather map. When the isobars are packed together and the winds are between 35 and 64 knots, it further develops into a(n) ____________________. The latter is classified as a(n) ____________________ only when its winds exceed 64 knots (74 mi/hr).

Question 65

​Most hurricane-related deaths are due to

A) ​flooding.
B) ​falling debris.
C) ​strong winds.
D) ​lightning strikes.
E) ​collapse of buildings.

Question 66

Because of the conservation of angular momentum, air spiraling inward toward the center of a hurricane ____________________ in speed.​

Question 67

​Hurricanes are given names when the storm is in the ____ stage of development.

A) ​tropical storm strength
B) dissipating
C) ​developing
D) ​beginning
E) ​inversion

Question 68

Aircrafts that fly directly into a hurricane to obtain data are called ____________________.​

Question 69

​Suppose, in the North Atlantic, an eastward-moving ocean vessel is directly in the path of a westward-moving hurricane. What would be the ship's wisest course? To veer to the ____ of the storm.

A) ​north.
B) ​east.
C) ​southeast.
D) ​south.
E) ​west.

Question 70

During hurricanes, the combined effect of high water (which is usually well above the high-tide level), high winds, and the net Ekman transport toward the coast, produces a(n) ____________________.​

Question 71

​In a hurricane's ____________________ skies are often clear or partly cloudy.

Question 72

As Hurricane Katrina moved toward the Louisiana coast, it underwent ____________________, during which the old eyewall dissipated and a new one formed farther away from the coast.

Question 73

​You are in Darwin, Australia (on the north shore), and a hurricane approaches from the north. Where would the highest storm surge be?

A) ​to the north
B) ​to the east
C) ​to the south
D) ​to the southeast
E) ​to the west

Question 74

​The winds of a hurricane ____ as the storm moves over cooler water than when it moves over warmer land.

A) ​decrease more quickly
B) ​decrease less quickly
C) ​increase more quickly
D) ​increase less quickly
E) ​remain more stable

Question 75

As latent heat is released inside the clouds of a hurricane, the warming of the air aloft creates an area of ____________________ pressure aloft.​

Question 76

​A(n) ____________________ is a temperature-measuring device that is dropped from an aircraft into the ocean where it measures water temperature as it slowly descends beneath the surface.

Question 77

​When Hurricane Andrew moved over south Florida during August 1992, ____ caused the relatively small areas of extreme damage.

A) ​storm surges
B) ​high winds
C) ​river flooding
D) ​spin-up vortices
E) ​flash flooding

Question 78

The ____________________ is an abnormal rise of several meters in the ocean level-which inundates low-lying areas and turns beachfront homes into piles of splinters. It is particularly damaging when it coincides with normal high tides.​

Question 79

When a hurricane poses a direct threat to an area, a hurricane ____________________ is issued. When it appears that the storm will strike an area within 24 hours, a hurricane ____________________ is issued.​

Question 80

​The name given to a hurricane-like storm that forms over the tropical western North Pacific Ocean is a(n) ____________________.