Author Question: Even though more hurricanes form, on average, over the Eastern Pacific than over the tropical North ... (Read 114 times)

Collmarie · **on:** Jul 13, 2018

Even though more hurricanes form, on average, over the Eastern Pacific than over the tropical North Atlantic, we generally hear less about them. Why do you think this is so?
What will be the ideal response?

Question 2

In your opinion, do hurricanes pose the greatest threat to the east or west coast of the United States? Explain.
What will be the ideal response?

krakiolit · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 13, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANSWER: Many hurricanes form off the coast of Mexico over the Northeast Pacific. In fact, this area usually spawns about nine hurricanes each year, which is slightly more than the yearly average of six hurricanes born over the North Atlantic. Eastern North Pacific hurricanes normally move westward, away from the coast, and so little is heard about them. When one does move northwestward, it normally weakens rapidly over the cool water of the North Pacific.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER: Hurricanes moving northward over the Atlantic and along the southern and western coastlines of the United States will normally survive as a hurricane for a much longer time than its counterpart at the same latitude over the eastern Pacific. The latter would pose a threat to the west coast of the United States. The reason for this situation is that an Atlantic hurricane moving northward will usually stay over warmer water, whereas an eastern Pacific hurricane heading north will quickly move over much cooler water and, with its energy source cut off, will rapidly weaken. Hence, the east coast is under more threat than the west coast.