Abstract This paper analyzes hurricanes. It discusses how hurricanes are formed and describes their structure. The paper discusses the affects of hurricanes on their surrounding environment. It then describes what is needed in order for a hurricane to increase in strength, as well as how it can become weaker. The paper concludes with the writer's personal memories and experiences with hurricanes.
From the Paper "Hurricanes are warm storms fueled by thunderstorms near their center. But before we can call any storm a hurricane, there are certain criteria that have to be met. Sometimes hurricanes can use pre-existing systems of disturbed weather to form; although in this system they must have some sort of circulation as well as a low pressure center. Another component that helps to form a hurricane is low wind shear. High wind shear would prevent the formation of a feedback loop which helps power the storm. Warm water is another and probably the most important component in the formations of hurricanes. Water temperatures have to be at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit down to a depth of at least 150 feet. Hurricanes are known as warm storms so it would only make sense that they form in warm water. The last component that will be mentioned is, distance from the equator. The minimum distance that a hurricane can form from the equator is 310 miles or 5 degrees on a map. This distance allows the Coriolis Effect to circulate the storm system giving it the appearance of a pin wheel (Wikipedia, 2007)."