Hurricane

[kyle forinash <forinas@indiana.edu>]

Ok, well I did ask for a simple explanation but now I'd like to know more.
How the heck does a huricane change random thermal motion into 150mph
winds? This is a neat trick (and at first glance would appear to contradict
the second law of thermo...).

kyle

At 9:27 AM -0400 9/30/98, Herbert H Gottlieb wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 07:39:29 -0400 kyle forinash <forinas@indiana.edu>
> writes:
> > As long we are on the subject of hurricanes- can anyone give a short
> > explanation of how hurricanes come to be, in particular, why do they
> > gain energy while over water (but lose energy over land)?
>
> Over water, the warm winds pick up the fast moving (energetic) water
> molecules
> that have escaped from the surface by evaporation.
>
> Over land, the winds are slowed by friction with the surface.
>
> Herb Gottlieb from New York City
> (Where we never have hurricanes but everyone is always in a hurry)


-----------------------------------------------------
  kyle forinash   812-941-2390
  forinas@indiana.edu
  Natural Science Division
  Indiana University Southeast
  New Albany, IN    47150
  http://Physics.ius.indiana.edu/
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