Collection of Hack-Phreak Scene Programs/cleanhpvac.zip/cleanhpvac/HOMEWORK.ZIP/GEONOES.TXT

Text File | 1998-07-25 | 7KB | 126 lines

Atlantic Storms
in the
NorthEast










An overview of North Atlantic coastal weather patterns on the eastern seaboard
of the United States.  From a NorÆeaster to Hurricane, the unsettled weather of
New England.



Jason Wright
T+TH 1-2:30




 This paper is intended to give a quick overview of some of the
stormy weather patterns of the North Atlantic.  Focusing mostly on the effect it
has on New England and the immediate surrounding weather.  These storms
include:  Hurricanes (Summer) and NorÆEasters (Winter) which are a common
enough occurrence in New England.  Every year the East coast of the United
States is bombarded with both.  Just this past winter, it was a NorÆ easter
which turned into the blizzard of 96Æ.  Being a resident in the Northeast for 20+
years has allowed me to grow accustomed to these storms and to be able to
prepare for them adequately.  Some people have not had the pleasure of
enduring some of these storms and have missed an experience well worth
striving for.

 From the Mid-Atlantic Coast to the shores of New England, the
classic storm is called a NorÆeaster.  A low pressure area off the Carolina
coast strengthens and moves north.  Wind-driven waves batter the coast from
Virginia to Maine, causing flooding and severe beach erosion.  The storm taps
the AtlanticÆs moisture supply and dumps heavy snow over a densely
populated area.  The snow and wind may combine into blizzard conditions and
form deep drifts paralyzing the region.


As the storm moves to the north, the counterclockwise winds push it back
which creates the so called ôtailö end of the storm.  In some cases, it is almost
like the ôeyeö of a hurricane.  That is to say, that there is little activity or a
shutdown of activity, and then it begins again as fierce as ever.  Ice Storms
are also a problem.  Mountains, such as the Appalachians, act as a barrier to
cold air trapping it in the valleys and adjacent low elevations.  Warm air and
moisture moves over the cold, trapped air.  Rain falls from the warm layer onto
a cold surface below becoming ice.

 Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding
commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and
medical services.  Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock
down trees, bringing down power lines.  In rural areas, homes and farms may
be isolated for days and not have electricity.  Unprotected livestock may be
lost, especially during spring calving.  In the mountains, heavy snow can lead
to avalanches.  The cost of snow removal, repairing damages and loss of
businesses can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.    Heavy
accumulation of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and
lines, and communication towers.
Power and other services can be disrupted for days while utility companies
work to repair the extensive damage.  Storms near the coast can cause beach
erosion and sink ships at sea.
 A hurricane is along the same kind of storm.  It does however have a
much more destructive nature.  This is due to the different type of force that it
brings.  A hurricane storm must include by definition, the following:     (1) Low
level convergence strong enough to dissipate the normal trade winds
inversion and lift the moist layer, (2) High level divergence to remove the
accumulated air from the system and permit the pressure to fall at the surface,
and (3) sufficient energy to maintain the circulation.

  Hurricanes are also known as ôtropical cyclonesö.   As calm moist air
rises in the doldrums, numerous cumulonimbus clouds, widespread showers
and thunderstorms develop.  The pressure then mystically begins to fall
rapidly, and a cyclonic rotation of the storm begins to form.  The circulation
continues to develop, until full intensity is achieved.  Several vortices appear,
and usually it is the northernmost of these that is most dominant.  Scientists
believe that this occurs for two reasons:  (1)  The Coriolis force is more
important with latitude, and (2) A more dominant wind pattern is prevalent to
the north.  This intensifying of the storm, allows the pressure to drop even
farther.
 As of yet, the meteorological world has failed to explain the
impressive fall in pressure at the surface.  However, the higher and lower
levels may cause a fall in the pressure, simply by competing against each
other.  Those of the scientific world also are not positive of what outside acts,
that may influence the hurricane, to intensify the disturbance.

 It is also known for certain, that a hurricane that would be damaging
to the North Atlantic coast  may not form if the following conditions are not met:
(1) A great pressure drop from east to west, throughout the troposphere, (2)
The path in front of the storm must be moist tropical air,  and (3) The storm
must remain over the open sea all the way from the West Indies to where it
makes landfall on the North American coastal line.  Along with this, is a pool of
cold air which is strangely enough always available to intensify the storm.  It
is widely believed, that in every major hurricane in New England these
conditions have been present.  Usually, somewhere along the way, the
hurricane does not reach the values that are need to continue.  They
sometimes end up as tropical storms.  They must all reach their peak at the
time in order to continue to become a hurricane.



 The Weather Bureau has undertaken studies of the possibility of
man finding some way to modify hurricanes.  However, these studies have
proven to be not feasible.  They have included nuclear bombs and increasing
the water amount in the eye.  By saturating the middle of the storm it is
believed that they may be able to neutralize it.  This is not a very likely
scenario, as it would take a huge power of force to create the water necessary.
 Unless the conditions described in the past paragraph are met, and the wind
speed of the storm itself do not reach 40-45 mph than no major hurricane will
strike the New England area.

 As time goes by there will certainly be more hurricanes, and
NorÆeasters in our area.  It is a fair guess that there will be some deaths and
major inconveniences associated with these storms.  However, most of the
media and the world outside of the classroom (Earth Science) have not looked
at the effect that it is having on our earth.  Whether it be the erosion of the
beaches or the flooding of the rivers, how much more can the New England
area be prepared to take?  All this remains to be seen and will hopefully
someday get noticed by the media and the rest of the country.