Book 7, Question 40 · Video
Why Do Hurricanes Need Warm Ocean Water?
A hurricane is like an engine, and warm ocean water is its fuel. The sea has to be about 26 degrees Celsius, or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or warmer, and that warm water has to go down
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hello, weather detectives! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do hurricanes need warm ocean water?
The Big Idea
A hurricane is like an engine, and warm ocean water is its fuel. The sea has to be about 26 degrees Celsius, or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or warmer, and that warm water has to go down deep. Without that warm fuel, a hurricane runs out of power.
Warm Water Evaporates
Step one: warm water evaporates. Hot ocean water turns into invisible water vapor, which rises into the air. The warmer the sea, the more vapor goes up.
Vapor Makes Clouds
Step two: the vapor turns into clouds. High up, the vapor cools and condenses into tiny droplets. That makes clouds, and it also releases hidden heat. That released heat warms the air, so the air rises even faster.
The Engine Spins Up
Step three: the storm engine spins up. As air rushes in to replace the rising air, the whole storm spins faster and winds grow stronger. A hurricane is one of the biggest heat engines on Earth.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at a hurricane's engine! First, warm ocean water is the fuel. Second, rising vapor and clouds are the engine. And third, cool water or land cuts off the fuel and weakens the storm.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! The ocean has to be at least 26 degrees Celsius, which is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and warm well below the surface. When a hurricane moves over land, its warm-water fuel is gone, so it usually weakens. Cooler water does the same thing, and a hurricane can fade away. Even a weakened hurricane can bring flooding, so a grown-up should follow the official alerts.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, look at a storm's path on a news weather map. Mark where the storm has been, and where it is going. Then compare the path with a map of warm water. Ask: where did the storm weaken, and why?
Outro
Warm seas fuel hurricanes, and cool water or land weakens them. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!