Question 1

What is the proper order of storm intensity in terms of increasing wind speed?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of storm intensity in terms of increasing wind speed is tropical depression, tropical storm, and then hurricane.

Question 2

Which of the following can diminish the intensity of a hurricane?

Accepted Answer

Moving over land diminishes a hurricane's intensity because it loses its source of warm, moist air, which is necessary for maintaining its strength.

Question 3

Which "famous" hurricane was the costliest in United States history?

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Katrina is widely regarded as the costliest hurricane in United States history. Its damage was estimated at $160 billion.

Question 4

What system is used to name hurricanes if the established list of names is exhausted in a given year?

Accepted Answer

The established list of names for hurricanes is alphabetical and predetermined. However, if the list is exhausted in a given year, the Greek alphabet is used to name any additional storms that occur.

Question 5

What cold area do tropical disturbances have to survive through to then be rejuvenated by heat and moisture of the warmer water of the mid-Atlantic?

Accepted Answer

Tropical disturbances have to survive through the cold water of the Canary current, along the western coast of North Africa, before reaching the warmer waters of the mid-Atlantic where they can be rejuvenated by heat and moisture.

Question 6

Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas in September of 2008,and went on to become the third costliest hurricane in U.S.history.At its peak,it had sustained winds of 233 kmh (145 mph).What category was Ike on the Saffir-Simpson scale at its peak?

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Ike, with sustained winds of 145 mph, was a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale at its peak.

Question 7

The eye of a hurricane:

Accepted Answer

The eye of a hurricane is warmer than the rest of the storm because it is an area of sinking air and clear skies, which allows the sun to warm the surface.

Question 8

Why is the eye region of a hurricane largely free of precipitation and heavy clouds?

Accepted Answer

The eye region of a hurricane is largely free of precipitation and heavy clouds because of sinking air motion. As the air sinks, it warms up and dries out, which inhibits the formation of clouds and precipitation.

Question 9

Why do hurricanes in the Atlantic move toward the west during their early stages?

Accepted Answer

Prevailing trade winds in the Atlantic blow from east to west at lower latitudes. This means that hurricanes that form in the eastern Atlantic are initially pushed westward by the prevailing winds.

Question 10

What circumstance may inhibit further development of a hurricane by diminishing air's ability to rise?

Accepted Answer

Trade wind inversion is a layer of warm, stable air that acts as a lid, preventing the rising warm air currents from continuing to rise, and hence, inhibiting further development of a hurricane. Strong upper-level winds can shear and disrupt the hurricane, but not directly inhibit air's ability to rise. Convergence at the surface and unstable air are both conducive to rising air currents and thus, the development of a hurricane.

Question 11

What category of the scale of hurricane intensity is the strongest?

Accepted Answer

The category 5 on the scale of hurricane intensity is the strongest, with winds greater than 157 mph (252 km/h) and potential catastrophic damage.

Question 12

Although damages caused by a hurricane depend on several factors,which is the most significant?

Accepted Answer

The strength of the storm is the most significant factor in determining the damages caused by a hurricane. The stronger the storm, the more powerful the winds and the heavier the rainfall, leading to more destruction and flooding. The other factors can also contribute to the extent of damage, but the strength of the storm is the most critical.

Question 13

An easterly wave contributes to hurricane development by:

Accepted Answer

An easterly wave is a low-pressure system that creates surface convergence, a gathering of air at lower levels. The convergence leads to the accumulation of moist air, which can then rise, leading to the formation of thunderstorms. These thunderstorms can merge to form clouds, which can eventually develop into hurricanes. Therefore, easterly waves contribute to hurricane development by creating surface convergence.

Question 14

During which of the time spans listed below should hurricane formation in the North Atlantic be at a peak?

Accepted Answer

August-September is typically the peak of hurricane season in the North Atlantic.

Question 15

When a hurricane moves onto land,it declines in intensity.Which of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch?

Accepted Answer

Both friction and the lack of warm, moist air contribute to the decline in intensity when a hurricane moves onto land. Friction slows down the wind speed, reducing the hurricane's power, while the lack of warm, moist air prevents the hurricane from being fueled with energy and moisture. The heating from below by the land surface can actually have a negligible impact on the decline in intensity.

Question 16

When a cyclone's strongest winds do not exceed 37 miles per hour it is called a:

Accepted Answer

A cyclone with maximum sustained winds up to 38 mph is classified as a tropical depression. Tropical storms have maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph, hurricanes have maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher, tornadoes are smaller rotating columns of air and dust with winds that can exceed 300 mph, and dust devils are small whirlwinds with winds less than 70 mph.

Question 17

What determines when a tropical depression or storm is given hurricane status?

Accepted Answer

A tropical depression or storm is given hurricane status when its sustained wind speeds reach 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour) or higher.

Question 18

The deadliest natural disaster of any kind to ever occur in the United States was:

Accepted Answer

The Great Storm of 1900, also known as the Galveston Hurricane, is considered the deadliest natural disaster in US history, with an estimated death toll of 8,000-12,000 people. The hurricane made landfall on September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, causing a storm surge that flooded the city and led to widespread destruction. The exact number of casualties is difficult to determine due to poor record-keeping at the time, but it is clear that the storm had a devastating impact on the Gulf Coast region. By comparison, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 resulted in around 1,800 deaths, the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 caused 57 deaths, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths.

Question 19

Which one of the following is most intense?

Accepted Answer

Tropical storms are more intense than tropical depressions and tropical disturbances. They have higher wind speeds ranging from 39 to 73 miles per hour, causing heavier rainfalls and stronger winds. Therefore, option A is the correct answer. Option D, tropical water, is not related to the intensity of a tropical weather system, and option C, tropical disturbance, refers to a weak disturbance that has the potential to develop into a tropical depression or storm, but it is not yet an intense weather system.

Question 20

The United States deadliest hurricane happened in 1900 in Galveston,Texas.Approximately how many deaths did the hurricane cause?

Accepted Answer

The 1900 Galveston hurricane caused an estimated 8,000 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane in United States history.

Quiz 11: Hurricanes