How is the water cycle related to storms?
“And when water condenses from water vapor into rain in the atmosphere, it releases heat into the atmosphere, and that drives stronger motions in the atmosphere,” Schmitt said. “That’s why thunderstorms are more intense and more tornadoes develop.”
How does the water cycle contribute to severe weather?
Climate change intensifies this cycle because as air temperatures increase, more water evaporates into the air. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, which can lead to more intense rainstorms, causing major problems like extreme flooding in coastal communities around the world.
How does the water cycle cause winds?
As Earth’s water evaporates, winds move water vapor from the sea to the land, increasing the amount of fresh water on land. Wind and evaporation patterns from the first animation are shown here on a map of the world. The ocean loses water to the air when the water evaporates and turns into water vapor (steam).
How does a storm form in the ocean?
As this weather system moves westward across the tropics, warm ocean air rises into the storm, forming an area of low pressure underneath. This causes more air to rush in. The air then rises and cools, forming clouds and thunderstorms. Up in the clouds, water condenses and forms droplets, releasing even more heat to power the storm.
How does the ocean affect the weather system?
As the air far above the sea rushes upward, even more warm moist air spirals in from along the surface to replace it. As long as the base of this weather system remains over warm water and its top is not sheared apart by high-altitude winds, it will strengthen and grow. More and more heat and water will be pumped into the air.
How does the sea water affect a hurricane?
Hurricanes start simply with the evaporation of warm seawater, which pumps water into the lower atmosphere. This humid air is then dragged aloft when converging winds collide and turn upwards.
How are small raindrops affected by the water cycle?
As Alistair Frasier explains on his web page, Bad Rain, small raindrops, those with a radius of less than 1 millimeter (mm), are spherical, like a round ball. As droplets collide and grow in size, the bottom of the drop begins to be affected by the resistance of the air it is falling through.