Geographical Processes
- Hurricanes engines use warm, moist water as their fuel. This is why they only form over warm ocean water near the equator. Warm, moist air rises upward and away and there is less air left near the surface. It causes an area of lower air pressure below.
- Air from the surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. The "new" air becomes warm and moist and also rises. As the warm air continues to rise, the surrounding air swirls in to take its place. As the warmed, moist air rises and cools off, the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins grow, which is fed by the ocean's heat and water vapor from the surface.
- Storms that form north of the equator spin counterclockwise. Storms south of the equator spin clockwise. This difference is because of Earth's rotation on its axis.
- As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the center. The eye is clear and calm, with very low air pressure. High air pressure from above flows down into the eye. This is the formation of a hurricane and from there on, it takes it’s course depending on where it forms on the equator.