1. ATM OCN 100 – Summer 2002 LECTURE 36
TROPICAL WEATHER SYSTEMS: TROPICAL CYCLONES & HURRICANES
A. INTRODUCTION
Definitions & Tropical Cyclone Nomenclature
The Tropical Weather Setting
The Human Factor

3. 101 years ago in Galveston, TX From National Climate Data Center 8-9 Sept > 6000 people killed

4. Historical Hurricanes – Galveston, TX Sept. 1900 SLOSH Model

5. Historical Hurricanes – Galveston, TX Sept. 1900

7. Tropical Depression Tropical Storm Hurricane NOMENCLATURE
Sustained winds less than 39 mph
Tropical Storm
Sustained winds mph
Hurricane
Sustained winds 75 mph or greater

8. NAMING HURRICANES
Rationale
Historical
Modern International Convention

9. B. HURRICANE CLIMATOLOGY
Overall Hurricane Characteristics
Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale
Geographical Distribution
Seasonal Distribution
Interannual & Long Term Variability

10. Typical cyclone tracks

11. Year 2001 Hurricane/Tropical Storm Tracks in North Atlantic
8 Hurricanes
7 Trop. Storms

12. Year 2001 Hurricane/Tropical Storm Tracks in Eastern/Central North Pacific
8 Hurricanes
7 Trop. Storms

13. C. LIFE CYCLE OF A HURRICANE
Overall Sequence
Hurricane Formation
Mature Stage
Death of a Hurricane

14. D. STRUCTURE OF A HURRICANE [Mature Stage]
Warm Core Characteristic Structure
Winds Associated with a Hurricane
Spiral Bands
Eye Wall
Eye of Hurricane
Vertical Structure of a Mature Hurricane
Hurricane Energetics

15. E. HURRICANE WEATHER
Movement of a Hurricane
Weather Sequences Associated with Passage of a Hurricane
Differences Between Tropical & Extratropical Cyclones

16. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS of A MATURE HURRICANE (TROPICAL CYCLONE)

17. F. HURRICANE PUBLIC SAFETY
Damage from a Hurricane
Sources of Hurricane Induced Damage
Hurricane Safety Rules Minimizing Hurricane Damage
Hurricane Detection
Forecasting Hurricane Behavior
The Problem

18. F. HURRICANE PUBLIC SAFETY (con’t)
Monitoring Hurricanes
Short Term Forecasting and Dissemination of Information to the Public

19. TROPICAL WATCHES/WARNINGS (from National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane/typhoon watch
A hurricane/typhoon condition poses a possible threat to coastal areas generally within 36 hours.

20. TROPICAL WATCHES/WARNINGS (from National Hurricane Center)
Hurricane/typhoon warning-
Sustained surface winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours or less.
Warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves continue.

21. Storm Surge

22. Coastal Erosion from Hurricane

23. Wind Speed Decay

24. Effect of Hurricane Winds

26. Hurricane Hunters

27. Inside Eye of Hurricane Erin Hurricane Hunters