Similar storms, or tropical cyclones, are found the world over forming around the equator in tropical and subtropical waters. The massive storms are a collection of clouds and clusters of thunderstorms that form a cyclone shape that typically spans miles, but can span 1, miles and rise 10 miles high with destructive winds.
Depending on the strength of the storm they can cause widespread destruction if they make landfall. Hurricanes get their name from the Taino, an indigenous people of the Caribbean. Hurricanes require three main ingredients; warm water at least 80 degrees , moist air and wind.
In the Atlantic, winds coming from Africa evaporate the warm waters of the Atlantic putting more moisture in the air which then condenses to form the storm clouds. As the storm clouds cluster together around a tropical depression, they form a concentrated system which can result in a hurricane.
On average the Atlantic hurricane season can produce 12 named storms. Storms are named when the tropical storm reaches sustained wind speeds of 39 mph.
When the wind speed reaches 79 mph, the storm becomes a hurricane. Tropical cyclones are like engines that require warm, moist air as fuel. So the first ingredient needed for a tropical cyclone is warm ocean water. That is why tropical cyclones form only in tropical regions where the ocean is at least 80 degrees F for at least the top 50 meters about feet below the surface.
The second ingredient for a tropical cyclone is wind. In the case of hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean, the wind blowing westward across the Atlantic from Africa provides the necessary ingredient.
As the wind passes over the ocean's surface, water evaporates turns into water vapor and rises. As it rises, the water vapor cools, and condenses back into large water droplets, forming large cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds are just the beginning.
Credit: NOAA. The air then rises and cools, forming clouds and thunderstorms. Up in the clouds, water condenses and forms droplets, releasing even more heat to power the storm. During just one hurricane, raging winds can churn out about half as much energy as the electrical generating capacity of the entire world, while cloud and rain formation from the same storm might release a staggering times that amount.
Less than one percent of algal blooms actually produce toxins. Not all algal blooms are harmful, and some may actually be beneficial. This will move storms from east to west in lower latitudes and west to east in higher latitudes. A weaker high pressure will keep storms further east. A stronger high pressure will push storms further south and west. The strength and position of the Atlantic Ridge fluctuates throughout the season. Skip to content. Programming Schedule. Ahmaud Arbery Case.
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