Lecture 18

Question 1

Where will the winds be strongest in a hurricane?

Answer 1

Greatest tangential wind speed within 100km from centre of hurricane
East of eye will have fastest winds, west of eye will have slowest winds

Question 2

How do we communicate storm intensity or magnitude?

Answer 2

Current wind speed, previous track, predicted track
Magnitudes and category of hazard
Past frequency and recurrence interval
Predicting and mitigating hurricanes

Question 3

Why does rotational speed change with height?

Answer 3

Hurricane is “warm-core” - winds increased downward from flight-level
Friction decreases wind in the lowest 1500ft of eyewall

Question 4

Eyewall

Answer 4

Slants away from eye