Starter quiz
- What is the process by which water turns into vapour?
- condensation
- evaporation ✓
- precipitation
-
- What does the term distribution mean?
- it describes how something is spread out ✓
- it describes how something is formed
- it describes the damage an event can cause
-
- What term describes the movement of air from high to low pressure, often causing weather changes?
- wind ✓
- currents
- tides
- cycles
-
- Cloudless skies, dry conditions and stable weather is expected of what type of air pressure?
- high pressure ✓
- low pressure
- variable pressure
-
- What is significant about the equator in terms of global weather patterns?
- it has no significant impact on weather patterns
- it is the coldest part of Earth, influencing global weather patterns
- it is the warmest part of Earth, influencing global weather patterns ✓
-
- What term describes where the two Hadley cells meet at the equator?
- Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) ✓
- Equatorial Low Pressure Belt
- Tropical Cyclone Zone
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Exit quiz
- Where are tropical storms usually found?
- between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn ✓
- in the middle of continents
- near to the poles
-
- What is the required sea surface temperature for tropical storms to form?
- at least 10°C
- at least 27°C ✓
- at least 32°C
-
- The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms to ...
- 1⇔r
- 2⇔o
- 3⇔t
- 4⇔a
- 5⇔t
- 6⇔e
- How do tropical storms lose strength?
- by moving over land or cooler waters ✓
- by moving over warmer waters
- by staying stationary
-
- What are the conditions in the eye of a tropical storm?
- highest wind speeds and most severe weather
- the area with the most rainfall
- calm and clear weather with low wind speeds ✓
-
- In what ways is climate change affecting tropical storms?
- frequency
- intensity ✓
- distribution ✓
-
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Tropical storms have distinctive structural characteristics and are widely distributed within the tropics.
- Tropical storms are related to the atmospheric circulation and are formed by particular meteorological conditions.
- Tropical storms form in source areas, intensify as they track over oceans and then dissipate.
- Climate change may affect the distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms.
Common misconception
Tropical storms can form over land.
Tropical storms form over warm ocean waters where they can draw energy from the heat and moisture. Once over land, they lose their energy source and weaken.
Keywords
Coriolis effect - deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation
Wind shear - the change in wind speed and direction at different altitudes
Latent heat - the energy stored in water vapour when it evaporates, that is released when the vapour condenses back into liquid water
Climate change - long-term changes in Earth's climate, mainly caused by human activities which increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
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