Labs / Geography
Hurricane Engine
Warm ocean water is a hurricane's fuel: rising moist air releases latent heat, and the Coriolis effect twists it into a spinning eye and eyewall. Drag the storm's track across the map and adjust the sea, the latitude, and the wind shear to watch the storm strengthen into a major hurricane — or fall apart over cool water and land.
P 1005 mbWind 60 km/hTropical StormIntensifying ↑
What to try
- Drag the track ashore. How fast does a Category 5 collapse once it loses the ocean?
- Slide the latitude down toward the equator. Why can't a storm spin up there?
- Crank up the wind shear. What happens to the eye when the winds aloft tear at the storm?
- Route the track straight through the cool current. Does warmer surrounding water rescue it?
- Chase the lowest central pressure you can — which combination of sea temperature and calm air gets you there?