Scientific Explanation: Hurricanes

A. Hurricanes depend on two things to start them and to survive. They are moist air and heat. In the late summer, there are tons of these two fuels in the tropical waters. The surface of the sea should be about 80˚F or above. Because of this, water quickly evaporates into the air and transforms into water vapor. So, as the air takes up the water vapor, it becomes moist. After that, the humongous area of warm, moist air starts to rise, and all the air surrounding it begins to rush in toward this rising column. While this is happening, the path of the air flowing in becomes curved, due to the Earth’s rotation. Air spirals in a counter-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and the opposite way in the Southern Hemisphere. This column of ascending air with more air spiraling around it is called a cyclone, which is just the scientific name for a low-pressure air system. However, this could be the beginning of a hurricane.
B. Hurricanes spawn over tropical seas along the coast of North America and the Caribbean. This is because there is plenty of warm, moist air at these places.
C. Inside the cyclone, water vapor in the rising column of warm, moist air changes into tiny drops of water. When this condensation takes place, the rising column of air becomes warmer because of the heat given off. The drops of water then form clouds, and continuous rains and thunderstorms occur. Now the curving winds will be blowing at around 40 mph, while trade winds will be carrying it in a westward direction at a speed of approximately 12 mph. Pressure always falls in a tiny region called the eye in the middle of the system. However, it really shouldn’t be called a tropical cyclone anymore-it is finally a hurricane.
D. Hurricanes are damaging, powerful, and feared by people. They bring screaming winds and unleash heavy rains, which lead to massive property damage and even loss of life! Small buildings are knocked down from the very force of the wind, and sections