GEOG 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5.13, 5.14, 5.17: Wind Shear, Landfall
Document Summary
Tropical cyclones/hurricanes/typhoons- low pressure, large areas of strongly rotating winds, locally elevated sea levels near the storm, high wind driven waves, coastal. Ooding and erosion, and ooding along the streams as the storm passes inland. Eye- cylinder of relatively clear, calm air. Eyewall- area immediately surrounding the eye where strongest winds and most severe thunderstorms are usually found. Storm surge- counterclockwise winds push waves onshore. African easterly jet (aej)- west owing stream of air in the northeast trade winds with which cyclones are often associated with. Trough- poleward bend of the air wave. Storm track- path a tropical cyclone travels. What conditions strengthen or weaken a tropical cyclone: changes in water temperature. Cooler > weaken: encountering with other air masses. Land > weaken: upper level wind and pressure. Tropical depression- least energetic type of tropical cyclone. Tropical storm- wind speeds of at least 64km/hr (39mph)