A.   Hurricane = Typhoon = Tropical Cyclone

• size of tropical cyclones

C.   Stages of Development

1. (easterly wave?) tropical disturbance
2. tropical depression = sustained winds 23-39 mph
3. tropical storm = sustained winds 40-74 mph
4. hurricane = sustained winds >74 mph

II.   STRUCTURE AND CHARACTERISTICS

A.   Structure

B.   Eye (vertical)

1. ring of intense t-storms
2. heaviest precip & strongest winds
3. clear and calm in center
4. how much energy? (avg hurricane estimate)
   • kinetic energy = 1/2 of world electric generating capacity
   • latent heat generated per day = 200 x world elect gen capacity
   • = 10 megaton nuclear bomb detonated every 20 minutes!
     http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D7.html

1. 1cm rise/mb drop in press. (Typhoon Yuri)
2. storm + high tide = catastrophic

1. trade winds
2. Bermuda High
3. storm tracks
   • Atlantic / E Pacific (1st half / 2nd half)Hurricanes
   • W Pacific Typhoons
   • World, 1985-2005
   • more ... and... potential for several at same time

E.   Floods + Tornadoes

F.   Saffir-Simpson Scale

• category 1 through 5

A.   Distribution

• average number of storms
• peak season?
• U.S. number of strikes
• trends? (in table form)

1. year or location names
2. alphabetic names ... then female naming
3. alternating gender/ethnicity naming (WMO lists)
4. retirement of names

STORMS CHAPTERS ----->

Air Mass / Fronts

Midlatitude Cyclone

Thunderstorms

Hurricanes