Level 94
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Natural Hazards and Disaster Geography

Tropical Cyclones and Severe Storm Geography

A survey of hurricanes, typhoons, and other severe storm systems, and the regions most exposed to their destructive power.

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. How Tropical Cyclones Form and Intensify. Warm oceans, moisture, and low wind shear combine to spin up and intensify tropical cyclones.
  2. Hurricane Basins and Regional Naming Conventions. The same kind of storm carries different names and thresholds across the world's seven cyclone basins.
  3. Notable Historic Hurricanes and Typhoons. From Galveston in 1900 to Haiyan in 2013, historic storms expose recurring patterns of coastal vulnerability.
  4. Storm Surge and Coastal Flooding. Wind-driven surge, not wind speed alone, causes most tropical cyclone deaths and coastal damage.
  5. Tornado Alley and Severe Convective Storms. Central U.S. Tornado Alley owes its severe storms to colliding air masses and strong wind shear.
  6. Hailstorms and Derechos. Strong thunderstorm updrafts also produce giant hail and derechos, wind events distinct from tornadoes.
  7. Cyclone Forecasting and Early Warning Systems. Satellites, reconnaissance aircraft, and coastal warning networks have sharply cut cyclone death tolls.
  8. Climate Change and Storm Intensity Trends. Warming oceans appear to push the strongest storms stronger, even as total-count trends stay debated.

This module continues after "Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Seismic Risk Zones" in the syllabus. If you haven't reviewed it yet, it may help set the context.

Key points

Visual module map

1How Tropical Cyclones Form and Intensify
2Notable Historic Hurricanes and Typhoons
3Tornado Alley and Severe Convective Storms
4Hailstorms and Derechos
5Climate Change and Storm Intensity Trends

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

Your module mastery

0% (overall measurement)
Approximate breakdown by skill
Understanding of historiographical debate0%

A rough estimate based on the key points reviewed, not an exact measurement of actual mastery.

Final test

You need to review all key points to unlock the final test.

Optional mini-games

Extra practice, with no penalty, to reinforce the module's content.

Review Flashcards

Review each key point with cards that flip to reveal the summary.

Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

Put the module's key points back in their original order.

Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Emanuel, K. (2005). Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Longshore, D. (2008). Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (New ed.). New York: Facts on File.
  • Knabb, R.D., Rhome, J.R., and Brown, D.P. (2005, updated 2011). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina. Miami: National Hurricane Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  • Doswell, C.A. III (Ed.). (2001). Severe Convective Storms. Meteorological Monographs, Vol. 28, No. 50. Boston: American Meteorological Society.
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Fujita, T.T. (1971). Proposed Characterization of Tornadoes and Hurricanes by Area and Intensity. SMRP Research Paper 91. Chicago: University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences.