How do hurricanes get stronger?
Ryan, age 12 A: Their energy source is the heat in warm ocean waters. Hurricanes are able to convert this heat energy into the mechanical energy of its winds. Q: How big are hurricanes? How big can a hurricane really get? Ashley, age 6; Michael, age 7 A:They range in size from 60 miles in diameter to 1,000 miles in diameter. The biggest can be 1,000 miles in diameter. Q: How do hurricanes get their names? Also, why are they usually female names? Charmaine E., age 11 A:Tropical cyclones are named to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or longer and that more than one can be occurring in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about which storm is being described. Between 1951 and 1977, hurricanes were given female names. Beginning in 1978, both male and female names began being used, alternating with each letter of the alphabet. Q: How long can
