Blown away.All hurricanes are potentially dangerous to human life and property. But some are more dangerous than others. In the 1970s, the Saffir-Simpson scale Saffir-Simpson scale (săf`ər–), standard scale for rating the severity of hurricanes as a measure of the damage they cause; it is based on observations of numerous North Atlantic Basin hurricanes. categorized cat·e·go·rize tr.v. cat·e·go·rized, cat·e·go·riz·ing, cat·e·go·riz·es To put into a category or categories; classify. cat the destructive potential of a hurricane hurricane, tropical cyclone in which winds attain speeds greater than 74 mi (119 km) per hr. Wind speeds reach over 190 mi (289 km) per hr in some hurricanes. for the first time. To determine a hurricane's potential for destruction, scientists consider these three points: 1. Barometric ba·rom·e·ter n. 1. An instrument for measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in weather forecasting. 2. Something that registers or responds to fluctuations; an indicator: Pressure: Hurricanes occur in the atmosphere (gas layer that surrounds and presses on Earth's surface Noun 1. Earth's surface - the outermost level of the land or sea; "earthquakes originate far below the surface"; "three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water" surface ). The atmosphere is unevenly warmed by the sun's energy. As warmer pockets of air rise, cooler air rushes in to fill the vacuum vacuum, theoretically, space without matter in it. A perfect vacuum has never been obtained; the best man-made vacuums contain less than 100,000 gas molecules per cc, compared to about 30 billion billion (30×1018) molecules for air at sea level. . In this continuous exchange, air moves between layers of the atmosphere. As the air moves around the planet, the pressure the atmosphere exerts on Earth changes at any given spot. In regions where large amounts of air are rising, the atmosphere doesn't does·n't Contraction of does not. press down on the planet with as much force. These regions are called low-pressure low-pres·sure adj. 1. Having, working under, or exerting little pressure. 2. Relaxed in attitude, nature, or style; easygoing: a low-pressure lifestyle; a low-pressure personality. Adj. areas. Over tropical oceans, these areas may spawn To launch another program from the current program. The child program is spawned from the parent program. (operating system) spawn - To create a child process in a multitasking operating system. E.g. hurricanes. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure Force per unit area exerted by the air above the surface of the Earth. Standard sea-level pressure, by definition, equals 1 atmosphere (atm), or 29.92 in. (760 mm) of mercury, 14.70 lbs per square in., or 101. in metric units Noun 1. metric unit - a decimal unit of measurement of the metric system (based on meters and kilograms and seconds); "convert all the measurements to metric units"; "it is easier to work in metric" metric called millibars. The lower the atmospheric pressure within a hurricane, the more powerful the storm. 2. Storm Surge storm surge: see under storm. : Low pressure within a hurricane allows ocean water to rise and form a bulge Bulge A slang term used to describe a rapid advance in prices within the commodities market. Notes: A bulge is similar to a rally on equity exchanges. See also: At The Market, Bear, Break, Bull, Buoyant, Congestion, Rally Bulge . As a hurricane moves to shore, it carries the water bulge with it. Most hurricane damage is caused when the water bulge hits land. The higher the storm surge, the more damage it causes. 3. Sustained Wind Speed: A storm must have winds of at least 118 kilometers (74 miles) per hour to be rated a hurricane. The stronger the winds, the more destruction they bring.
Saffir-Simpson Scale
Category Barometric Pressure Winds
1 Above 980 millibars 118 to 153 kilometers
per hour (74 to 95
miles per hour)
2 965 to 979 mb 154 to 177 km/h
(96 to 110 mph)
3 945 to 964 mb 178 to 209 km/h
(111 to 130 mph)
4 920 to 944 mb 210 to 250 km/h
(131 to 155 mph)
5 Below 920 mb More than 250 km/h
(155 mph)
Barometric Pressure Storm Surge Potential Damage
Above 980 millibars 1.2 to 1.6 meters Minimal
(4 to 5 feet) Street signs, tree
branches, and power
lines may be blown down.
Unanchored mobile homes
are damaged.
965 to 979 mb 1.7 to 2.5 m Moderate
(6 to 8 ft) Large signs and thick
tree branches are blown
down. Minor damage to
house roofs.
945 to 964 mb 2.6 to 3.8 m Extensive
(9 to 12 ft) Large trees are
uprcaoted. Mobile homes
are destroyed. Some
structural damage to
buildings.
920 to 944 mb 3.9 to 5.5 m Extreme
(13 to 18 ft) Buildings heavily
damaged. Flooding as far
as 9.6 km (6 mi) inland.
Below 920 mb Higher than 5.5 m Catastrophic
(18 ft) Buildings, roofs, and
structures destroyed.
Flooding as far as 16 km
(10 mi) inland.
Directions: Study the information above to answer the following questions. Use complete sentences. 1. A category 2 hurricane has winds ranging between what speeds? 2. What kind of damages could a category 1 hurricane potentially bring? 3. What category hurricane could bring a 2.2 m (7.2 ft) storm surge? 4. Which of the following hurricanes has a more severe category rating: A hurricane with a barometric pressure reading of 930 mb or a hurricane that brings a 3 m storm surge? What is the category of the stronger hurricane? ANSWERS 1. A category 2 hurricane has winds ranging from 154 to 177 kilometers per hour (96 to 110 miles per hour). 2. A category 1 hurricane could bring the following damages: Street signs, tree branches, and power lines may be blown down. Unanchored mobile homes could be damaged. 3. A category 2 hurricane could bring a 2.2 m (7.2 ft) storm surge. 4. The hurricane with a barometric pressure reading of 930 mb has a more severe category rating. It is a category 4 hurricane. |
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