Abstract
Hurricanes are tropical storms accompanied by strong twisters and initial wind strength not less than 119 Kilometers per hour. The Saffir-Simpson Scale measures hurricanes, which determines the category of the hurricane. Depending on the intensity of the hurricane, there are five categories of the hurricane. Notable hurricanes that have occurred in America in the past include Camille, David, Dot, Fredric, Galveston and Iwa. The development of a hurricane is through two successive stages: tropical depression and tropical storm. Ways of monitoring hurricanes include trucking using radar systems and satellite remote sensing, aircraft and the internet. Hurricanes are popular towards the end of summer and they play an important part in balancing heat energy distribution on the earth. When one gram of ocean water evaporates, it transfers about 585 cal of heat energy to the hurricane. Category one hurricanes are mild with wind speeds ranging from 119 to 153km/hr. Limited damage is experienced especially significantly on vegetation. Category 2 hurricanes are moderate with wind speeds ranging between 154 and 177 km/hr. Resultant damages exceed vegetation to houses. Category three hurricanes are strong with wind speeds ranging between 178 to 209 km/hr. Damages on buildings become severe. Category four hurricanes are extensive with wind speeds ranging between 210 to 250 km/hr. Damages become less selective. Category five hurricanes have wind speeds exceeding 250 km/hr and damages are devastating. There are precautionary and remedial mechanisms in preparation for any eventual hurricane damage on the property. These include reinforcing doors and windows and taking a flood cover. Households in disaster-prone areas should have an evacuation strategy and a fully equipped disaster kit.
Formation of Hurricane
According to Answers Corporation, the definition of a hurricane is a severe tropical phenomenon of strong twisters that gains a wind speed and strength of 119 Kilometers per hour or exceed this (2010, 16, 17, 18 & 19). Heavy torrential downpours characterize hurricanes. If a tropical storm persists with a tendency to intensify its magnitude then it is categorized as a hurricane. This can happen within a span of one to two days. From their point of origin, most of the hurricanes experienced will head northwards. As hurricanes move away from the tropics, they die out. In addition, hurricanes weaken when overland. Hurricanes favorably happen under the following conditions: when the pressure air is low, when the temperatures are warm when the ocean air is humid, and with tropical winds blowing (Enchanted Learnig.com, 2010, p. 1).
Origin of the term “hurricane”
The original version of the term hurricane traces its origin from the Taino Indians inhabiting Islands off the Caribbean Sea in the east of North America. They gave storms the name huraca’n which means the center of the whirlwind. When the name is further split, Hura meant wind while ca’n meant center. The characteristic of a clear calm center of a brewing hurricane could have a resulting factor for giving the name. Columbus and his voyage could have picked the name from the Taino Indians and used it in the Spanish language. Later in the mid-1500 century, the Spanish name got the English version. Taino language died out courtesy of the European invasion (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 29)
The duration and destructive power of a hurricane
Most of the hurricanes experienced have their origins from the Caribbean Sea, the eastwards of the Pacific Ocean, or the equatorial areas of the Atlantic Ocean (Answers corporation, 2010, p. 16). Hurricanes are termed typhoons in the Western North Pacific regions. On most occasions, a hurricane may continuously persist a day or extend up to a month (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 15). With their magnitude strength, hurricanes that reach the shore have been associated with loss of human life as well as devastating property destruction. According to Answers Corporation, some of the hurricanes have reached the shore have resulted into an in-situ event like mudslides, flash floods, storm surges, wind or fire associated damages(2010, p. 1). According to Thurman, the strength associated with a single hurricane is greater than energy sources that can sustain the United States of America (USA) for twenty years (1988, p.153). The degree of intensity of a hurricane is captured using the Saffir-Simpson Scale (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 4). The category of intensity or rather severity of the hurricane will range between one and five. Categories of hurricanes are based on the extent of their wind strength. The hurricanes in category five are severest of all. Actually, the use of wind strength in categorizing serves as a projected measure of the extent of the devastation. Thurman states that hurricanes are perceived to be natural safety valves that free heat energy held up throughout the summer season in the low latitudes (1988, p.156). On warm summer days, ocean waters absorb more solar energy while little is reflected away. The capacity of ocean water that makes it transfer large amounts of surplus energy from lower latitudes is attributed to its high latent heat of vaporization.
Names for hurricanes
In the recent past, hurricanes have been referred to using male and female names, such as Camille, David, Dot, Fredric and Galveston, among others. According to Answers Corporation, knowledge claims about the origin of the naming of storms acknowledge an Australian politician, probably a century ago (2010, p. 18). The politician used the names as a strategy for the people to identify the storms referred to by the weather department. The names were mainly those of his archrival politicians. Tropical cyclones were among the first to be given names. During World War 2, the USA force began using females to refer to storms in the Pacific Ocean. Later the USA meteorology bureau picked the trend. The worst devastating hurricane that had hit the USA took place on September 8, 1900 (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 36 & Thurman, 1988, p.153). The hurricane had a wind strength of 135km per hour and overwhelmed the Galveston city of Texas. Human life loss reached about 6000. Hurricane David initially began in the North Atlantic Ocean in August 1979 at 12 degrees latitude and 36 degrees longitude. Within a span of fourteen days, the storm gathered momentum and catastrophically swept through Southern Florida in Miami State to Canada and USA North Atlantic Coast, Caribbean Islands and retreated to the North Atlantic Ocean. The Hurricane caused 1100 deaths in the Dominican Republic while in Georgia 37 lives were similarly lost (Thurman, 1988, p.154). In September 1979, Hurricane Fredric with a wind strength of 120km per hour wreck havoc on Mobile Islands in the State of Alabama and further made its way closing in on the states of Louisiana, New Orleans and Florida (Thurman, 1988, p.155). Hurricane Iwa struck the Hawaiian Islands in November 1982 at wind strength of 130km/hr leaving a trail of devastation.
Hurricane development stages
Hurricane develops from cyclones through two successive stages namely tropical depression and tropical storm (Answers Corporation, 2010, зю 38). In the contemporary world, technologies that have been in application for tracking hurricanes include radar systems, satellite, and remote sensing technologies, aircraft, and aerial flights as well as internet monitoring. High winds, expansive coastal inundation off the ocean shores as well as the torrential rainfall associated with the hurricane events aggravate life and material loss (Family Education Network, 2009, p. 3). Storms of this nature are popular towards the end of the summer season. However, hurricanes play an important role as one of the earth’s energy conduits by transferring heat energy from areas of high to deficient ones.
A hurricane develops from a tropical storm or cyclone offshore when it intensifies. The storm intensifies if it encounters warm water especially at temperatures above 26.5 degrees Celsius. According to Thurman, about a depth of ten to sixty kilometers, holes within the earth’s atmosphere serve to release surplus thermal energy gathered at the latitudes occurring in the lower tropics (1988, p.152). The storm graduates from low-pressure cells that rupture as it heads away. Winds rotating counterclockwise catalyze these developments. The storm intensifies when it encounters warm ocean water. The heating up and gain of energy intensify the storm. The inherent high heat capacity and latent heat evaporation of ocean waters enable it to transfer high amounts of heat energy from areas with high to those of low in regions of high latitude. When the storm persists and the winds gather speed of up to 119 kilometers per hour then the tropical storm is graded as a hurricane in the Western hemisphere while in the Eastern it is referred to as a typhoon (Thurman, 1988, p.152).
The subtleties of using and categories
According to Answers Corporation, the terms hurricane, typhoon, and tropical cyclone are applied synonymously but they differ depending on where the storm occurs (2010, p. 3). Hurricanes will refer to those storms experienced in the North Atlantic Ocean areas, South of the Pacific Ocean as well as North East side of the Pacific Ocean on the east side of the dateline. On North West side of the Pacific Ocean, the term typhoon applies. Australia and Indian Ocean storms, the term tropical cyclone are used. In the tropical cyclone case, winds spin clockwise (Family Education Network, 2009, p. 2 & Sommerfield, 2010, p. 1). According to Answers Corporation, the yearly timing for the occurrence of hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones vary markedly with reference to locality (2010, p. 40). Northern Pacific Ocean hurricanes and typhoons are experienced between the months starting May until December, while the Southern hemisphere typhoons and cyclones have their likely occur between the months of December and April. Tropical cyclones likely occurrence in the cases of the Bay of Bengal as well as the Arabian Sea may be between the months of April and June or may shift to months between September and December.
Most tropical cyclones do not reach the wind speed of 119km/hr (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 20). According to Thurman, when one gram of ocean water evaporates it transfers about 585 cal of heat energy to the hurricane (1988, p. 156). The central spinning point of the ocean whirlwind (that is the ‘eye’) is relatively calm. The circumference of the spiraling is referred to as the eyewall (City of Houston, 2008, p. 10 & Family Education Network, 2009, p. 2). The diameter of a hurricane can extend up to 800 km. However, in most cases, the diameter of a hurricane rarely exceeds200 km (Thurman, 1988, p.152).
The characteristics of the hurricane determine its category. The Category 1 hurricanes are mild with wind speeds ranging between 119 and 153 kilometers per hour. Damages expected from such hurricanes are limited with slight inundation of affected areas. The hurricane may pick up a few items; uproot weak structures and unearth shrub-like plants. Category two hurricanes are moderate with wind speeds ranging from 154km/hr to 177km/hr. Damage is greater than that of category one. These hurricanes may blow down trees, shutter doors, and windows, extensive damage to the roofing, and may further extend onshore flooding. In this hurricane category, rescue missions should begin by moving affected persons to higher altitudes. The category three hurricanes are far-reaching with winds speed ranging between 178km/hr and 209 km/hr. Damages noticeable due to the nature of hurricanes may include devastating all roadside signposts; causing extensive damage on small buildings and coastal areas may undergo severe flooding with significant damages to structures within. According to Answers Corporation, coastal areas with altitudes of up to five feet may suffer flooding extending to about 13km (2010, p. 7). Category four hurricanes are grave, wind speed range between 210 km/hr and 250km/hr. These hurricanes’ damages are less selective on trees, structures, roofs, doors, and windows and decimate mobile homes. The hurricanes sweep away coastal shores to a distance of 10km inland at altitudes of 10 feet. Rescue missions are extensive in the affected areas. Category five hurricanes are catastrophic with wind speeds of up to 250 km/hr or more. The hurricane may reduce buildings among other extensive damages. Rescue missions are massive spanning up to16km in residential areas (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 9).
Precautionary for hurricane damage
In the recent past, the USA increased number and magnitude of hurricanes has translated to increased loss of property due to the hurricanes and further aggravated by the increased erection of property close to the coastal strip. However, life loss has been on the decline. Life loss declines have been attributed mainly to three action initiatives. The three include the effecting of robust early warning systems, comprehensive aerial flights, and satellite surveillance and monitoring as well as conducting of public awareness programs. These are coupled with positive indicators set to assess the performance of the three. Enhancing the forecasting procedures has minimized the lag between the projected and real-time when the hurricane reaches the shore.
There are precautionary and remedial actions in readiness for any eventual hurricane damage on the property. For instance, use metal straps to fasten roofing, door lintels, and window frames. Also, where applicable obtain a flood insurance cover. Like in the USA, there is a National Flood Insurance Program where some tens of thousands of community members are involved. They manage floodplains that are prone to future devastation. Their services are traded for federally backed insurance (Answers Corporation, 2010, p. 9).
Households living in hurricane areas should have a strategy in place, an evacuation strategy as well as equipment for a disaster kit. The household should also identify an emergency assembling point within the house. Where the house has no convenient point for assembling, the household can opt for a vicinity alternative in the neighborhood. The household should also keep a checklist of emergency services lines such as nearby health care facilities, fire stations, and security forces. These are critical for communication, especially during rescue missions. During preparation for disaster eventuality, a disaster kit will contain the following: safe and portable drinking water, beddings, clothing, food items, fully equipped first-aid kit, functioning lighting gadgets; reliable media devices, disaster manuals that enlighten on the emergency response on various issues, children playing and reading material, essentials for the sick, physically challenged, aged and minors and pet feed.
The choice for food items is preferably those that will last without getting bad for instance some pre-packed and canned foodstuffs like biscuits, cereals and grains. Clothing set aside for the emergency events should factor in all household members. Beddings consist of essential sleeping gear. Disaster manuals should touch on various aspects of responding to emergency events. Playing gadgets for the young is essential in keeping them busy and calm in the event of a disaster. Special attention should be given to the needs of household members who cannot adequately take care of themselves (Enchanted leaerning.com, 2010, p. 1).
Media communication gadgets such as radio receivers come in handy as key informants for the local populace on the current state of affairs. Media stations, as well as local emergency services departments, may relay communication to the remote population within short times effectively. Media communication is pivotal in conveying genera of issues such as breaking news as an early warning for advancing disaster, relay disaster preparation, and management tips and fundraise as well as mobilize resources for the disaster victims. In addition, the media centers may announce the state of evacuation and rescue missions, may act as a communication interface between the disaster victims and emergency staff, and may call for global action from the wider national and international support for disadvantaged victims, among others. Thurman warns that heedless to precautionary and safety alerts raised on this kind of phenomenon will result in more deaths in the future (1988, p.156).
References
- Answers Corporation. (2010). Hurricane. Web.
- City of Houston. (2008). Hurricane formation.
- Family Education Network. (2009). Formation of Hurricanes.
- Enchanted leaerning.com. (2010). How Hurricanes Form and Die.
- Sommerfeild, M. (2010). Tropical Storms and Hurricanes: Formation and Cyclogenesis.
- Thurman, H.V. (1988). Introductory Oceanography (5th ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Bell & Howell Information Company.