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What causes hurricanes to increase in strength?

cooler water temperature
slower wind speeds
moving onto land
lower central air pressure

7 answers

Hurricanes increase in strength primarily due to lower central air pressure. When the central pressure of a hurricane decreases, it allows for stronger winds and more intense convection, which contributes to the storm's intensity.

The other options you mentioned have opposite effects:

  • Cooler water temperature generally weakens hurricanes, as they rely on warm water for energy.
  • Slower wind speeds do not contribute to strengthening a hurricane.
  • Moving onto land typically leads to weakening due to the lack of warm water and the friction from land surfaces.

So, the key factor for increasing hurricane strength is lower central air pressure.

Which property does the Saffir-Simpson scale use to categorize hurricanes?
water temperature
storm surge
storm diameter
wind speed

The Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes based on wind speed. The scale classifies hurricanes into five categories, with each category corresponding to a range of wind speeds, indicating the potential damage and impact associated with the storm. The Saffir-Simpson scale does not consider water temperature, storm surge, or storm diameter for its categorization.

What causes hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere to rotate counterclockwise?
the strength of the eyewall
ocean temperatures
the Coriolis effect
the Saffir-Simpson scale

Hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise primarily due to the Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth, which influences the direction of wind and currents. In the Northern Hemisphere, this effect causes moving air to be deflected to the right, leading to the characteristic counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes.

The other options you've mentioned do not directly cause the rotation of hurricanes:

  • The strength of the eyewall relates to the hurricane's intensity but does not affect the direction of rotation.
  • Ocean temperatures influence the development and strength of hurricanes but not their rotation direction.
  • The Saffir-Simpson scale is a classification system for hurricanes, not a factor in their rotational motion.
Which structural damage might be expected if a Category 1 hurricane is predicted to hit an area?
A high percentage of framed homes could be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse.
Well-built framed homes could sustain severe damage, with loss of most of the roof structure.
Well-built framed homes could incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends.
Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to the roof, shingles, and vinyl siding.

If a Category 1 hurricane is predicted to hit an area, you might expect that well-constructed frame homes could have damage to the roof, shingles, and vinyl siding.

Category 1 hurricanes have sustained winds of 74-95 mph (119-153 km/h), and while they can cause some damage, it is typically not as severe as that associated with higher-category hurricanes. Most well-built structures will sustain some minor damage, but generally, they can withstand this level of storm without significant structural failure.