AQA A2 Geography

1. How do Tropical Revolving Storms Form?

3. We need to understand how tropical revolving storms are created, their impacts and know how people respond to them. We should also take into account the effects of global warming on such events.

4. What drives a Tropical Storm? Cold polar air moves towards the warm equator. Hot tropical air moves towards the cold poles. The planet is not evenly heated. At A the heating is more direct = intense. Whereas at B it is spread over a larger surface area = less intense.

6. Tropical storms form between 5 ºand 20º North & South of the equator. They need warm water ~ above 27 ºc – hence their location. As the Earth rotates, this provides the ‘spin’ needed to start the tropical storm on its journey across the Atlantic towards America.

8. Tropical revolving storms occur all around the world, but are called different names. 11% 17% 8% 11% 20% 33%

9. Warm Oceans The ‘food’ of a tropical storm is the warm moist water found near the equator. The air here is under LOW pressure, which means it can lift easily. This lifting encourages the air to cool and condense, as it does latent heat is released. This is the name given to energy produced when a substance changes state ie vapour to a liquid.

10. Here is a check list of what is needed for a tropical revolving storm to grow. A storm can travel anywhere from 15 to 40mph Once the storm has developed it can grow 400 miles wide.

11. Here is a 3D image of a Tropical revolving storm. Notice the lower level winds being drawn in and spiralling counter clockwise. The lines ‘isobars’ get closer together, indicating faster flowing air.