Page 158 - Super Earth Encyclopedia

FURIOUS STORM

HURRICANE

In tropical regions close to
the equator, huge storms called
hurricanes build up over oceans
heated by intense sunshine. Warm, High-level cloud spills out
moist air rises off the sea, forming in the opposite direction to
the low-level cloud spiral.
gigantic storm clouds. The rising air
near the center of the storm drags Outflowing air creates
surrounding air inward in a spiraling a spiral canopy of thin,
hurricane, generating howling winds icy cirrus cloud.
and huge waves.
Air that has risen to the
Eye of the storm top of the hurricane flows
outwards over the storm.
Air dragged into a hurricane moves faster and
faster as it approaches the center, but the eye
of the storm is strangely calm. Meanwhile,
moisture rising off the warm sea builds
towering spiral walls of cloud that are tallest
around the eye. A canopy of thin clouds spills
out from the tops of the highest clouds, while
torrential rain deluges the sea below.

BIGGEST

STORMS ON EARTH

Seawater needs to be at
least 200 ft (60 m) deep for
a tropical storm to occur.

STATS AND FACTS

WIND SPEED HURRICANE SIZE
Hurricanes form in A hurricane can
the tropical Atlantic Sustained wind be up to 2,220 km
speeds can reach
and eastern Pacific 346 km/h (215 mph), (1,380 miles) across −
oceans. Similar storms strong enough to nearly half the size ABOUT
in the Indian Ocean destroy buildings. of the USA. 85
and south Pacific HURRICANES PER YEAR
are called tropical STORM SURGE HEIGHT DURATION WORLDWIDE
cyclones, while in A hurricane storm A hurricane can last up
the northwestern surge can be more to a month out at sea,
Pacific they are than 26 ft (8 m) traveling relatively Air swirling into the center
called typhoons. higher than slowly at about of the hurricane rises over
normal sea level. 15 mph (24 km/h). the warm ocean, building
spiral bands of rain cloud.

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