1. Hurricanes By: R. Craig Gilchrist, Danielle Ormond, and Laura Pilmoor

2. Table of Contents Causes Causes Description Description Explanation Explanation Effects Effects Example: Hurricane Katrina Example: Hurricane Katrina

3. Causes What does a hurricane need? What does a hurricane need? Hurricane Seasons Hurricane Seasons What types of weather conditions preclude this phenomenon? What types of weather conditions preclude this phenomenon? How can we predict these occurrences? How can we predict these occurrences? Why is money put towards researching how to predict these occurrences? Why is money put towards researching how to predict these occurrences?

5. Hurricane Seasons Globally, hurricane season peaks in late summer because this is the time when the difference in temperatures between the air and the ocean is the greatest. Globally, hurricane season peaks in late summer because this is the time when the difference in temperatures between the air and the ocean is the greatest. On average September is the most active hurricane month whereas May is the least active. On average September is the most active hurricane month whereas May is the least active.

6. What types of weather conditions preclude this phenomenon? Low winds Low winds Thunderstorms Thunderstorms High water temperature High water temperature High humidity High humidity Low atmospheric pressure Low atmospheric pressure

7. How can we predict these occurrences? Because of the complex systems of the hurricanes they are extremely difficult to predict before they start to form. Because of the complex systems of the hurricanes they are extremely difficult to predict before they start to form. However computer simulators can predict their paths based on data they have collected from satellite images. However computer simulators can predict their paths based on data they have collected from satellite images. It is nearly impossible for scientists to predict the intensity of the storm. It is nearly impossible for scientists to predict the intensity of the storm.

8. Why is money put towards researching how to predict these occurrences? Because they cause a lot of damage. Because they cause a lot of damage. Over the past two centuries, hurricanes have been responsible for the deaths of about 1.9 million persons worldwide. Over the past two centuries, hurricanes have been responsible for the deaths of about 1.9 million persons worldwide. Hurricane Katrina alone caused $ 81.2 billion in property damage. Hurricane Katrina alone caused $ 81.2 billion in property damage. With more advanced prediction systems billions of dollars could be saved along with thousands of lives. With more advanced prediction systems billions of dollars could be saved along with thousands of lives.

9. Description What is a Hurricane? What is a Hurricane? What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly storm? What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly storm? How do scientists rate the intensity of these storms? How do scientists rate the intensity of these storms? What is the science behind Hurricanes? What is the science behind Hurricanes?

10. What is a Hurricane? A hurricane is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center (also known as the eye) and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and flooding rain. A hurricane is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center (also known as the eye) and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and flooding rain. It is also referred to as a tropical cyclone. It is also referred to as a tropical cyclone.

11. What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly storm? Storm Surge: an abnormal rise in the level of the sea along a coast caused by the onshore winds of a severe storm I.e. Hurricane. Storm Surge: an abnormal rise in the level of the sea along a coast caused by the onshore winds of a severe storm I.e. Hurricane.

12. What would you experience if you were caught in this deadly storm? Cont’d High winds: as high as 155 mph High winds: as high as 155 mph Severe Thunderstorms Severe Thunderstorms Structural Damage Structural Damage Torrential Rain Torrential Rain Flooding (see storm surge) Flooding (see storm surge)

13. How do scientists rate the intensity of these storms?/ What is the science behind Hurricanes? Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Scale which categorizes hurricanes into five groups based on intensity. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Scale which categorizes hurricanes into five groups based on intensity. Click here to see a cool animation on Hurricanes. Click here to see a cool animation on Hurricanes. Click here Click here

14. Effects How hurricanes effect people? How hurricanes effect people? How hurricanes effect animals? How hurricanes effect animals? How hurricanes effect nature? How hurricanes effect nature? On whom or what do hurricanes impact the most? On whom or what do hurricanes impact the most?

15. How hurricanes effect people? Destroy homes. Destroy homes. Take lives through drowning, blowing away, collapsing buildings, etc. Take lives through drowning, blowing away, collapsing buildings, etc. Destroys livelihoods. Destroys livelihoods. Leaves them with few to no resources. Leaves them with few to no resources.

16. How hurricanes effect animals? Destroys habitats. Destroys habitats. Kills animals: Flings birds out of the sky, sucks water and land animals in to the sky. Kills animals: Flings birds out of the sky, sucks water and land animals in to the sky. Leaves pets ownerless Leaves pets ownerless Destroys food supply. Destroys food supply.

17. How hurricanes effect nature? Pollutes water with debris Pollutes water with debris Destroys trees and other vegetation Destroys trees and other vegetation Floods ground which discourages regeneration Floods ground which discourages regeneration

18. On whom or what do hurricanes impact the most? Hurricanes impact humans the most because nature and animals have the ability to adapt whereas humans are dependant on our resources and when they are destroyed, we are left with nothing. Hurricanes impact humans the most because nature and animals have the ability to adapt whereas humans are dependant on our resources and when they are destroyed, we are left with nothing.

19. Example: Hurricane Katrina The costliest and one of the 5 deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. The costliest and one of the 5 deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. It was a category 5 hurricane that was formed on August 23, during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a category 5 hurricane that was formed on August 23, during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Katrina started as a category one hurricane but over the gulf of Mexico it became one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded on record at sea. Katrina started as a category one hurricane but over the gulf of Mexico it became one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded on record at sea. At least 1,836 people lost their lives to Katrina making it the deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since 1928. At least 1,836 people lost their lives to Katrina making it the deadliest hurricane in the U.S. since 1928. An area almost as large as the United Kingdom (233,000 km 2 ) An area almost as large as the United Kingdom (233,000 km 2 ) It cost $81.2 billion in damages. More than double of what the previous most expensive hurricane cost. (Hurricane Andrew) It cost $81.2 billion in damages. More than double of what the previous most expensive hurricane cost. (Hurricane Andrew)

20. Hurricane Katrina View Katrina View Katrina View Katrina View Katrina

22. THE END Thank you for watching our presentation Thank you for watching our presentation We hope you enjoyed it We hope you enjoyed it