Atlantic hurricane tracking chart answers

Hurricane Tracking Lab Name ________________________________

Part I: Plotting the Track of Hurricane Katrina

On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane Katrina from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted position with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line.

1. Did Hurricane Katrina make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).

2. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?

3. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?

4. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?

Part II: Plotting the Intensity of Hurricane Katrina

Below are two graphs one on top of the other. The top graph is for Air Pressure and the bottom graph is for wind speed. Both the x and y axes have already been labeled for you. Use the data from the Hurricane Katrina chart on the first page, and plot the air pressure and wind speed on the appropriate graphs below.

5. What is the relationship between air pressure and wind speed as shown above in the graph?

6. What caused the increase in wind speed seen in the graph?

7. Describe what happened to air pressure and wind speed when the Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

Part III: Plotting the track of Hurricane Irene

On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane Irene from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted position with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line.

8. Did Hurricane Irene make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).

9. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?

10. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?

11. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?

Part IV: Final Analysis

12. What general compass direction do the hurricanes you plotted travel initially?

13. As the hurricanes progress, describe how their direction changes.

14. At what latitude do hurricanes appear to change direction? Was this the same for both storms?

15. Why did Hurricanes Irene and Katrina follow the tracks they did? What controls the track of a hurricane?

16. Why do hurricanes dissipate when they move over land over travel into the midlatitudes?

17. The category of a storm is one factor that will determine the human impact of a hurricane. Describe at least 2 other factors that will impact how big the storms impact is on people.