Episodic Changes in a Coastal Zone

After Hurricane Alicia

Coastal Storms

If you have Real Player installed on your machine down load How A Hurricane Developes. Or, view a NASA animation on Hurricane Formation

Try your hand at "creating a hurricane". Before reading the comments at the bottom of the page, adjust the slider bars for ocean temperature, shearing winds, pressure gradient, and humidity. Try and maximize the size of your storm. Compare your hurricane with Bonnie, Danny and Camille.

1. In general, the largest hurricanes are created when the ocean temperature is high.

   True
   False
   Temperature has no effect
   

2. High wind shear promotes the development of large hurricanes.

   True
   False
   Wind shear has no effect
   

3. The largest hurricanes develop when there is a large pressure gradient.

   True
   False
   Pressure gradient has no effect
   

4. The higher the humidity, the larger the hurricane.

   True
   False
   Humidity has no effect
   

If you have Read Audio or Quick Time Player watch several of these Hurricane Film Clips. In particular, the 1900 Galveston event and 1969 Hurricane Camille. Think about the impact of one of these large storms on a coastal zone.

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