WW2010
University of Illinois

WW2010
 
  welcome
 
> online guides
 
  archives
 
  educational cd-rom
 
  current weather
 
  about ww2010
 
  index

Online Guides
 
  introduction
 
> meteorology
 
  remote sensing
 
  reading maps
 
  projects, activities

Meteorology
 
  introduction
 
  air masses, fronts
 
  clouds, precipitation
 
  el nino
 
  forces, winds
 
> hurricanes
 
  hydrologic cycle
 
  light, optics
 
  midlatitude cyclones
 
  severe storms
 
  weather forecasting

Hurricanes
 
  introduction
 
  growth processes
 
> development stages
 
  movement
 
  public awareness
 
  public action
 
  damage
 
  names
 
  global activity
 
  el nino

Development Stages
 
  stages
 
  tropical depression
 
  tropical storm
 
> hurricanes

Hurricanes
 
> hurricanes
 
  eye
 
  eye wall
 
  spiral bands
 
  pres & wind

User Interface
 
  graphics
> text

NOTE: We've guessed that you're not using a client that supports colored tables and have tried to compensate. Low graphics mode looks much better on clients that do... we recommend switching to Netscape 3.0 or Microsoft Internet Explorer.
.
Hurricanes

As surface pressures continue to drop, a tropical storm becomes a hurricane when sustained wind speeds reach 64 knots (74 mph). A pronounced rotation develops around the central core.

Hurricanes are Earth's strongest tropical cyclones. A distinctive feature seen on many hurricanes and are unique to them is the dark spot found in the middle of the hurricane. This is called the eye. Surrounding the eye is the region of most intense winds and rainfall called the eye wall. Large bands of clouds and precipitation spiral from the eye wall and are thusly called spiral rain bands.

[Image: (391K)]

Hurricanes are easily spotted from the previous features as well as a pronounced rotation around the eye in satellite or radar animations. Hurricanes are also rated according to their wind speed on the Saffir-Simpson scale. This scale ranges from categories 1 to 5, with 5 being the most devastating. Under the right atmospheric conditions, hurricanes can sustain themselves for as long as a couple of weeks. Upon reaching cooler water or land, hurricanes rapidly lose intensity.



Development Stages
Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

eye