Page 159 - Super Earth Encyclopedia
P. 159
STORM SURGE
Winds blowing toward the eye of the storm drag
ocean water into a heap called a storm surge.
Very low air pressure at the center allows the surge
to rise even higher. If the hurricane then hits land,
the storm surge sweeps ashore like a tsunami.
These houses in New Jersey were wrecked by a
storm surge caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
At the eye of the storm,
there is little wind, and
sinking air stops clouds Ascending warm air builds
from forming. the storm clouds, which are
similar to those that cause
thunderstorms.
The tallest clouds form
the eye wall. This zone Cool, dry air sinks
has the strongest winds between the spiral
and heaviest rain. cloud bands.
A hurricane can only build
up over a tropical ocean
with a surface temperature
higher than 80°F (27°C).
The surface winds swirl
into the storm, getting
stronger as they EXTREME WEATHER
approach the center.
The strong winds build
huge waves out at sea, and
cause great destruction if
the storm moves over land.
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