PrintModule 5: Hurricane Formation and Evolution
Introduction
Without a doubt, coastal storms are among the most devastating natural hazards to impact human societies. Even seemingly small hurricanes and nor’easters have the capacity to do significant damage in very short periods of time. Each year, these catastrophes result in numerous injuries, the loss of life and property, and are detrimental to the economic vitality of coastal regions around the world. Coastal storms, whether tropical or extratropical, result in significant erosion from high winds, high water levels and coastal flooding, and large turbulent waves. The list of damaging storms in recent years is extensive, in part because storms of one type or another can be generated throughout the year. In the U.S., hurricane season lasts from early summer through early winter, and when hurricane season is over, extra-tropical storms (nor’easters) become more frequent. In Module 5 we will learn about how these storms form and evolve and how they can be forecasted. In Module 6 we will examine the lessons dealt from recent storms.