Understanding Hurricanes and Historical Storms

What did the Japanese name the typhoons that destroyed Kublai Khan's fleets?

• Khan's demise

• Ocean's wrath

• Storm of fury

• Divine wind

Which cultures told stories of Huracán, a god who brought wind and storms?

• Greek and Roman

• Norse and Celtic

• Taíno and Maya

• Egyptian and Sumerian

In what year did Western scientists figure out the spiral shapes of storms?

• 1492

• 1831

• 1905

• 2001

What are the basic ingredients for a hurricane?

• Electricity and water

• Pressure and temperature

• Heat and wind

• Cold and moisture

What effect causes hurricanes to spin?

• Gravitational pull

• Coriolis effect

• Magnetic fields

• Solar radiation

Why can't hurricanes form too close to the equator?

• There isn't enough difference in rotation

• The water is too warm

• There is too much land

• There isn't enough wind

What happens to hurricane winds as they move closer to the eye?

• They increase in speed

• They change direction

• They dissipate

• They slow down

How does evaporation affect the temperature of the air in a hurricane?

• It heats the air

• It has no effect

• It keeps the temperature the same

• It cools the air

What is the maximum theoretical wind speed for hurricanes, according to scientists?

• 250 mph

• 200 mph

• 190 mph

• 150 mph

What did Typhoon Haiyan's wind speed suggest about the maximum theoretical wind speed for hurricanes?

• It was below the maximum

• It exceeded the maximum

• It had no impact on the theory

• It confirmed the theory