Life Cycles of a Hurricane
It is among nature's most destructive forces. It has demolished buildings, wiped out property, and has destroyed lives. The hurricane, one of the most revered and intimidating natural disasters, is a phenomenon that decades of research have brought us closer to understanding. Thanks to the efforts of meteorologists worldwide, it is now possible to paint a picture of this monstrous storm's life cycles, from birth to death. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basics
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A hurricane is an immense tropical storm characterized by a low-pressure center and an outset of violent thunderstorms. The hurricane has numerous names, which are conditional depending on its strength and location. A giant hurricane can produce torrential rainfall and violent winds. But before that happens, the budding hurricane must pass through several stages of development.
Conditions
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There are several preexisting conditions that must be met in order to catalyze the development of a hurricane. These usually consist of areas of unsettled weather which emerge about twice a week. Occasionally, the storms can also form on the trails of cold fronts. The water must also be warm, around 80 degrees F with a depth of around 150 feet. Light upper level winds are also an element, and it is important that they have minimal change in speed and direction throughout the atmosphere's depth. This is known as low wind shear.
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Birth
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With all three of the conditions met, a storm can begin its emergence. Through contact with the warm, 80 degree F ocean waters, energy and heat are gathered by the preexisting disturbance. Heat rises as winds near the ocean's surface spiral into the center of the storm, into the area of low pressure. Moisture from the warm ocean water, as it rises, condenses into drops and releases yet more heat and energy into the storm.
Growth
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As long as the wind levels remain light, or there is no wind shear, then the budding storm may remain intact and continue to grow. If so, the storm's clouds, which are heated, can continue to rise higher into the atmosphere. As this happens, bands of thunderstorms may form, contributing to the growing storm. At this point, the earliest stage, it is known as a tropical depression, with winds less than 38 miles per hour. From above, it begins to form into the familiar spiral-shaped storm that you can probably recognize.
Maturity
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If conditions continue to be favorable and the winds of the storm reach between 39 and 73 miles per hour, the entity is classified as a tropical storm. The thunderstorm bands continue to add heat and energy to the presence, and eventually, it reaches an apex. When the winds reach a minimum of 74 miles per hour, the storm is a hurricane. The distinctive eye of the storm will continue to develop as air sinks at the center. The storm, now full grown, may live for spans of over two weeks.
Death
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Lacking the same conditions that originally promoted a hurricane's growth, the storm may begin deteriorating. If a hurricane makes landfall, it will inevitably lose its source of moisture and decay. Increasing winds can also tear it apart, as well as movement over cooler waters, which takes away the primary heat source. Take note that if a dying hurricane happens to move into more favorable conditions, it may easily reconstitute and begin the process all over again.
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