Hurricanes Versus Tornados

Two devastating and deadly natural disasters are the hurricane and the tornado which both cause heavy amounts of damage and are uncontrollable. There are many similarities in how hurricanes and tornadoes are formed. Although they are distinct disasters, hurricanes, and tornadoes pose similar threats to resources because of high winds which can destroy properties and affect the economy along with people’s lives. Both the hurricane, and the tornado are rated on a category scale.

First, devastating, and deadly natural disaster is a hurricane. In order for a hurricane to form it has to begin in a warm atmosphere. The seas are normally at their warmest from June to November. A hurricane requires sea- surface temperatures of at least 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). This provides energy for the hurricane and causes more evaporation making humid air and clouds. The winds coming together force air upwards and winds flow outwards above the storm, allowing the air below to rise.

Now this is what makes the storm and the light winds outside the hurricane steers it and this is how it grows into a formation of a hurricane. All hurricanes are dangerous and can cause numerous amounts of damage but the most dangerous parts of hurricanes are storm surges which also cause huge amounts of damages because of flooding. The flooding is caused by winds pushing ocean water toward sand. It is estimated that ten-thousand people die each year because of hurricanes. Many of human’s deaths are caused mainly by the flooding that occurs during a hurricane.

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For example, during hurricane Katrina in two-thousand and five it was devastating because much of the city of New Orleans flooded. Some eighteen-hundred people lost their lives because of hurricane Katrina and more than twenty-five hundred injuries occurred as well. No one wants to be caught in a hurricane because nowhere in a hurricane are you safe. This is why it is important to look for hurricane warnings and to evacuate if it is recommended in your area. Second, devastating, and deadly natural disaster is a tornado.

A tornado can occur anywhere in the world. Most tornadoes in the United States form in an area called “tornado alley” the formation of a tornado is from a combination of thunderstorms, wind shears (change in wind speed or direction), and updrafts (upward moving winds). A tornado begins in a severe thunderstorm called a super cell. A super cell thunderstorm is a huge rotating thunderstorm and this can last for several hours. Usually these storms are likely to produce long lasting tornadoes and baseball sized hail.

This is why super cell tornadoes are typically the largest and most damaging tornadoes because of the long duration of the storms. Many tornadoes cause high winds and sometimes massive damage. Violent winds cause trees to be uprooted, cars lifted, and roofs ripped off homes. For example, one of the most violent tornadoes was in Oklahoma City in 1999. It was one of the costly tornados in the United States history. Some 44 people died and more were to be reported. More than 750 people were injured in the Oklahoma City tornado.

This was rated as an F5 causing incredible damage to homes, structures, cars, etc. In America there are emergency broadcasts which state the scale and category of the disasters. Both hurricanes and tornadoes are rated by how much damage they cause. Hurricanes are rated on a Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale. It was originated in 1969 by two men one named Herbert saffir who was an engineer with those skills Herbert could determine the destruction that would be caused by the high winds and storm surges associated by a hurricane.

The second man involved in this scale was Robert Simpson; he was a meteorologist whose knowledge of the weather helped in determining wind speeds and intensity of storm surges. The categories of this scale are from one to five, five as the most destructive. Tornadoes are rated on a Fujita tornado intensity scale. The Fujita scale was created in 1971 by a man named Professor Theodore Fujita also known as “Mr. Tornado. ” He was a pioneer in the study of tornadoes. Those studies helped create some basic knowledge of severe storms.

The categories of this scale are from F-zero to F-five, five as incredible damage. As of yet there is no other tornado that has occurred with incredible damage besides the 1999 Oklahoma City tornado that was rated as an F5 (incredible damage). Wind speeds play a big role in the destruction caused from both hurricanes and tornadoes. Two devastating and deadly natural disasters are the hurricane and the tornado which both cause heavy amounts of damage and are uncontrollable. Both the hurricane and tornado can cause severe damage to many people’s homes, properties, and affect the economy.

Many hurricane damages come from the flooding and the tornado damages come from the violent winds. Both the hurricane, and the tornado can be very deadly and this is why many humans should always be aware and look for warning signs that will be broadcasted in their area before a disaster occurs. Broadcasts will also keep you posted on the latest information on a hurricane or tornado, and it will also state if there will be an evacuation in the area. It is very important to watch all broadcasts because this could be a life saver for many humans.

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