Comparisons Between Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina

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Recommended: introduction on hurricanes

According to the “ The handy weather answer book” by Kevin Hile a hurricane is defined as a tropical storm formed in the Atlantic Basin. Winds reach speeds of 74 miles per hour or more. Frequently, hurricanes occur during the months of summer. This allows energy to build from the warm surface of the ocean. Wind speeds, clouds, and the Coriolis effect all contribute to the formation of a hurricane (123). Hurricanes produce fierce winds. Nonetheless, it is the water that creates the most harm. “They can raise tides as high as 20 feet, and dump as much as 20 inches of rain inland,” (Douglas, 107). In fact, the development of Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina caused a tremendous amount of destruction to the Untied States. Analyzing both of these hurricanes will allow a better understanding of the damage they caused. Comparing occurrence of the event, the intensity, and damage. Examining the differences will display how unique each hurricanes are and the danger they bring.

Occurrence

Hurricane Sandy took place in October 2012. According to Galarneau, Davis, and Melvyn, “ Sandy was a late season tropical cyclone over the the North Atlantic, that created a demolishing storm surge from southern New Jersey to Rhode Island” (4296). Sandy evolved from an African tropical wave that connected with a large area of low pressure. Mixed with high humidity of the southwest Caribbean, Sandy first made landfall over Jamaica. Next, it made landfall on Cuba. It continued its course through the Bahamas. Rather than head east, Sandy proceeded on North. Earth’s rotation acts to put more vertical spin into the atmosphere the closer it gets to pole, this contributed to the growth of Sandy. However, once it got further north, Sandy transitioned to...

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... and Perry James. Samson. Extreme Weather and Climate. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.

Douglas, Paul. Restless Skies: The Ultimate Weather Book. New York: Sterling Pub., 2005. Print.

Fragile Earth: Views of a Changing World. New York, NY: Collins, 2006. Print.

Galarneau, Thomas J., Christopher A. Davis, and Melvyn A. Shapiro. "Intensification of Hurricane Sandy (2012) through Extratropical Warm Core Seclusion." Monthly Weather Review 141.12 (2013): 4296-321. Print.

Hile, Kevin. The Handy Weather Answer Book. Canton, MI: Visible Ink, 2009. Print.

Mcnally, Tony, Massimo Bonavita, and Jean-Noël Thépaut. "The Role of Satellite Data in the Forecasting of Hurricane Sandy." Monthly Weather Review 142.2 (2014): 634-46. Print.

Nirupama, N. "Is It Possible to Rank Hurricanes in a Unique Manner?" Natural Hazards 67.2 (2013): 963-68. Print.

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