Customer center

We are a boutique essay service, not a mass production custom writing factory. Let us create a perfect paper for you today!

Example research essay topic: Storm Surge Tropical Storms - 1,424 words

NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote

What is a hurricane? Hurricanes are part of a family of weather systems known as "tropical cyclones. " The word hurricane is from the West Indian word hurricane, meaning "big wind. " A hurricane begins its life as a disorganized storm system, which forms over warm, tropical waters in the Atlantic. When the storm system become more organized, it is classified as a "tropical depression, " and given a number by the National Hurricane Center. If the winds in a tropical depression grow in intensity to 40 mph, it is re- classified as a "tropical storm, " and it receives a name. When the winds in the storm reach 75 mph (120 kph), the storm is upgraded to a hurricane.

The winds of a hurricane are structured around a central "eye", which is an area that is free of clouds and relatively calm. Around this "eye" area, storm clouds wrap in a counter-clockwise motion. This "eyeball" of clouds, wind and rain, is the most destructive part of the storm. In fact, it is the eyeball that creates the eye, since the rapid spinning clouds in the wall reduce the pressure in the eye and suck out any clouds that may be there. Hurricanes are usually compact storms, with maximum wind velocities extending out 10 to 100 km from the eye. Of course, one can still experience gale-force winds as much as 300 miles out from the eye, which is why everyone in the Gulf Coast area is concerned when a hurricane comes a-calling.

How do hurricanes form? A hurricane starts out as an ordinary storm over warm ocean waters. But it absorbs heat and water from the ocean below, it grows bigger and bigger. An average hurricane is about 600 km (375 mi. ) across. Thats the distance from New York City to Norfolk, Virginia.

The huge, spiraling storm slowly starts to move carried westward by the prevailing in the region. At sea, boats are tossed around like toys. If the hurricane hit land it can destroy whole communities. Violent winds rip buildings apart and uproot trees and power lines. Rain lashes, causing flooding.

Then suddenly there is calm as the eye of the storm - the doughnut hole in the middle passes over. Winds and rain stop. Exhausted that has been fighting the winds get a rest. But after the eye of the storm passes by, watch out. The winds roar and the rains pour down again. Hurricanes gradually weaken as they pass over land or cool, northerly waters.

Without the warm ocean water to feed on, they cannot survive. The average hurricane only lives for about nine days, but in 1971 Hurricane Ginger just wouldnt die. It lasted for 22 days. Hurricanes long ago: Long, the people of Central America believed in a god named Hurakan who caused great storms. The storms were called Hurakan. When Europeans explorers arrived in the Americans, they learned about these fierce storms.

They changed the name into Hurricane. Christopher Columbus, credited with discovering America, had some bad experiences with Hurricanes. In 1493, Columbus founded the first non-Indian town in the Americas. It was called Isabela, and it was built on an island of Hispaniola. Most people havent heard of Isabela because it was soon wiped out by a Hurricane. In 1503, Columbus sailed into a hurricane off the coast Central America.

The following is Columbus description of that storm: Eyes never be held the seas so high, angry, and covered by foam. The wind not only prevented our progress, but offered no opportunity to rum behind any headland for shelter. Never did the sky look more terrible. The lightning broke forth with such violence that each time I wondered if it had carried off my spars and sails; the flashes came with such fury and frightfulness that we all thought the ships would be blasted. All this time the water never ceased to fall from the sky. In past centuries, hurricanes sank many ships.

In the late 1500 s, Spain and England fought for controls of the seas. The Spanish built a huge fleet of ships, called Armada. The English defeated some of the Spanish ships, but others were wrecked by hurricanes. Formation: Not all systems that form in the tropics become tropical storms or hurricanes.

A tropical wave is a weak area of low pressure without a defined circulation. This wave produces showers and thunderstorms, and if it becomes more organized, it becomes a tropical disturbance. A tropical disturbance is an organized area of thunderstorms, which holds itself together for at least 24 hours. Winds associated with a tropical disturbance are generally light, but can become gusty, and heavy rains may fall.

As the disturbance continues to develop, it may be upgraded to a tropical depression. A tropical depression is an area of low pressure in which sustained winds are 38 mph or less. If it continues to develop, it may become a tropical storm. Sometimes, a storm doesn't make it all the way to land.

High winds in the upper atmosphere blowing generally northeast can cause a storm to shear off, or fall apart. The storm will then turn to the north and east, and dissipate completely in the Atlantic. This phenomenon is known as wind shear. In the Atlantic and Caribbean, tropical storms and hurricanes generally form between the months of June and November. This is the hurricane season. The month of September is the most active for the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes.

In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes usually include a circular cloud structure of about 200 to 250 miles in diameter. Hurricanes require warm waters of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit on order to develop. Destruction: If the storm surge arrives at the same time as the high tide, the height of the water will be even greater. Over 6, 000 people were killed in 1900 by the famous Galveston Hurricane -- most by the storm surge. In 1969, Hurricane Camille produced a 25 foot storm surge in Mississippi, and in 1989, Hurricane Hugo produced a 20 foot storm surge in South Carolina. Not only does the storm surge cause damage, but the winds of a hurricane also do a lot of damage.

Hurricane force winds of 74 mph and greater can destroy poorly constructed buildings and mobile homes. Debris and other items outside can become flying missiles. The winds of a hurricane often stay above hurricane force well inland, causing unexpected destruction of those unprepared. Another destructive element of hurricanes is the heavy rain and flooding which often occurs over a widespread area. Rain in excess of 6 inches is the grate threat to inland areas. Tropical Storm Claudette (1979) brought 45 inches of rain to Alvin, Texas, and with it, 600 million in damage.

Hurricane Diane (1955) brought floods to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England, contributing to nearly 200 deaths, and $ 4. 2 billion in damage. Hurricane Agnes (1972) produced floods in the Northeast United States, contributing to 122 deaths, and 6. 4 billion in damage. Another dangerous by product of hurricanes is the tornado. These tornadoes are often embedded in rain bands well away from the center of the hurricane.

These tornadoes add to destructive power of the hurricane. On the topic of destruction, comes the story of the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. This, the deadliest natural disaster to strike the U. S. , killed more Americans than the Chicago Fire, San Francisco Earthquake, and the Johnstown Flood all put together. When the residents of Galveston finally realized the strength of the hurricane, it was too late -- The Bridge to the mainland was under water.

The people were all trapped with nowhere to go and no protection. The storm surge literally put the entire island under water. As a result of this disaster, a seawall was built to raise the entire city to an average height of 13 feet above sea level. Another reason hurricanes are particularly deadly is that over the past several years, it has become harder and harder to evacuate people when a hurricane threatens because the roads have not kept up with the rapid population growth. This problem is made worse by the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the people now living in hurricane-prone areas have never experienced a major hurricane, yet some have been through weaker storms. This provides a false impression of the damage a hurricane really brings, and can lead to complacency and delayed actions, which could result in the loss of many lives.


Free research essays on topics related to: low pressure, tropical storms, storm surge, central america, hurricane

Research essay sample on Storm Surge Tropical Storms

Writing service prices per page

  • $18.85 - in 14 days
  • $19.95 - in 3 days
  • $23.95 - within 48 hours
  • $26.95 - within 24 hours
  • $29.95 - within 12 hours
  • $34.95 - within 6 hours
  • $39.95 - within 3 hours
  • Calculate total price

Our guarantee

  • 100% money back guarantee
  • plagiarism-free authentic works
  • completely confidential service
  • timely revisions until completely satisfied
  • 24/7 customer support
  • payments protected by PayPal

Secure payment

With EssayChief you get

  • Strict plagiarism detection regulations
  • 300+ words per page
  • Times New Roman font 12 pts, double-spaced
  • FREE abstract, outline, bibliography
  • Money back guarantee for missed deadline
  • Round-the-clock customer support
  • Complete anonymity of all our clients
  • Custom essays
  • Writing service

EssayChief can handle your

  • essays, term papers
  • book and movie reports
  • Power Point presentations
  • annotated bibliographies
  • theses, dissertations
  • exam preparations
  • editing and proofreading of your texts
  • academic ghostwriting of any kind

Free essay samples

Browse essays by topic:

Stay with EssayChief! We offer 10% discount to all our return customers. Once you place your order you will receive an email with the password. You can use this password for unlimited period and you can share it with your friends!

Academic ghostwriting

About us

© 2002-2024 EssayChief.com