ESCI 1010 Lab 7
Hurricanes (AKA: Typhoons, Cyclones)
Before Lab: Review pages 328-361 in your Weather and Climate textbook. Please pay special attention
to the sections entitled: ”Hurricanes around the Globe: The Tropical Setting”, “Hurricane
Characteristics”, “Hurricane Structure”, and “Hurricane Movement and Dissipation”. You may also elect
to consult the National Hurricane Center through their website: www.nhc.noaa.gov where you can find
information on particular storms, specific weather observations and imagery as well as forecasts and
advisories.
Summary: This lab focuses on tropical systems. This lab exercise supports building your understanding
of the tropical systems including: ingredients for formation, development, and impacts.
LAB EXERCISE
1. Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Ocean Basin begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Given
that evaporation provides fuel for tropical systems, how does this fuel source help you make sense
of when storms form and where (see Figure 7-1) they form? (Consult Figure 12-2 in your textbook).
Figure 7-1: Tropical Storm Source Regions (source: NASA.gov)
1
, 2. Hurricanes are low pressure systems that form above tropical waters. On the cross-section of a
hurricane depicted below (Figure 7-2) label the following:
a. Eye e. Rising air
b. Eye wall f. Convergence
c. Rainband g. Divergence
d. Descending air
Figure 7-2: Structure of a Hurricane.
3. Atmospheric pressure varies within the storm and also over the course of the storm’s life-cycle.
Some of the lowest air pressures observed have been associated with very strong tropical systems.
As tropical storms intensify their central pressure decreases. Table 7-1 summarizes pressure
observations for Hurricane Manuel (2013).
a. What day was Hurricane Manuel the most intense (strongest): ____________________.
b. What day did Hurricane Manuel begin to weaken: ____________________.
Table 7-1: Hurricane Manuel
Date Minimum Central Pressure
SEP 13 2013 999 MB
SEP 14 2013 996 MB
SEP 15 2013 985 MB
SEP 16 2013 1002 MB
SEP 17 2013 1004 MB
SEP 18 2013 1000 MB
2
Hurricanes (AKA: Typhoons, Cyclones)
Before Lab: Review pages 328-361 in your Weather and Climate textbook. Please pay special attention
to the sections entitled: ”Hurricanes around the Globe: The Tropical Setting”, “Hurricane
Characteristics”, “Hurricane Structure”, and “Hurricane Movement and Dissipation”. You may also elect
to consult the National Hurricane Center through their website: www.nhc.noaa.gov where you can find
information on particular storms, specific weather observations and imagery as well as forecasts and
advisories.
Summary: This lab focuses on tropical systems. This lab exercise supports building your understanding
of the tropical systems including: ingredients for formation, development, and impacts.
LAB EXERCISE
1. Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Ocean Basin begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Given
that evaporation provides fuel for tropical systems, how does this fuel source help you make sense
of when storms form and where (see Figure 7-1) they form? (Consult Figure 12-2 in your textbook).
Figure 7-1: Tropical Storm Source Regions (source: NASA.gov)
1
, 2. Hurricanes are low pressure systems that form above tropical waters. On the cross-section of a
hurricane depicted below (Figure 7-2) label the following:
a. Eye e. Rising air
b. Eye wall f. Convergence
c. Rainband g. Divergence
d. Descending air
Figure 7-2: Structure of a Hurricane.
3. Atmospheric pressure varies within the storm and also over the course of the storm’s life-cycle.
Some of the lowest air pressures observed have been associated with very strong tropical systems.
As tropical storms intensify their central pressure decreases. Table 7-1 summarizes pressure
observations for Hurricane Manuel (2013).
a. What day was Hurricane Manuel the most intense (strongest): ____________________.
b. What day did Hurricane Manuel begin to weaken: ____________________.
Table 7-1: Hurricane Manuel
Date Minimum Central Pressure
SEP 13 2013 999 MB
SEP 14 2013 996 MB
SEP 15 2013 985 MB
SEP 16 2013 1002 MB
SEP 17 2013 1004 MB
SEP 18 2013 1000 MB
2
