Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how tropical storms develop as a result of particular atmospheric conditions and where they are found.
Key learning points
- Tropical storms have distinctive structural characteristics and are widely distributed within the tropics.
- Tropical storms are related to the atmospheric circulation and are formed by particular meteorological conditions.
- Tropical storms form in source areas, intensify as they track over oceans and then dissipate.
- Climate change may affect the distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms.
Keywords
Coriolis effect - deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation
Wind shear - the change in wind speed and direction at different altitudes
Latent heat - the energy stored in water vapour when it evaporates, that is released when the vapour condenses back into liquid water
Climate change - long-term changes in Earth's climate, mainly caused by human activities which increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Common misconception
Tropical storms can form over land.
Tropical storms form over warm ocean waters where they can draw energy from the heat and moisture. Once over land, they lose their energy source and weaken.
Teacher tip
The GIS lesson for this unit, Using GIS to map the track of a tropical storm, supports pupils in tracking tropical storms and identifying the factors influencing their distribution.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the process by which water turns into vapour?
Q2.What does the term distribution mean?
Q3.What term describes the movement of air from high to low pressure, often causing weather changes?
Q4.Cloudless skies, dry conditions and stable weather is expected of what type of air pressure?
Q5.What is significant about the equator in terms of global weather patterns?
Q6.What term describes where the two Hadley cells meet at the equator?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where are tropical storms usually found?
Q2.What is the required sea surface temperature for tropical storms to form?
Q3.The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms to ...
Q4.How do tropical storms lose strength?
Q5.What are the conditions in the eye of a tropical storm?
Q6.In what ways is climate change affecting tropical storms?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Climate change and weather hazards unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.