Hurricane

About this simulation

This model treats a hurricane as a heat engine fed by warm ocean water. Students change the sea surface temperature from 24 to 32 degrees C and the wind shear from 0 to 30 knots, and the storm takes a few seconds to strengthen or weaken. Radar colors run from green for light rain to red and white in the eyewall, and an eyewall ring can be shown. Readouts give category, maximum wind, central pressure and eye diameter. It helps explain why hurricanes need warm water and how shear can tear a storm apart.

What students can explore

Set Sea temperature to 25 C and read the Category and Max wind readouts.
Raise Sea temperature to 31 C and watch the storm spin up and the Central pressure fall.
Increase Wind shear to 25 kt and see the storm weaken.
Turn off Show eyewall ring and locate the eyewall by its red and white colors.
Compare Eye diameter at a weak setting and at a strong one.

Learning objectives

1Explain why hurricanes need warm sea water of about 26.5 C or more.
2Describe how wind shear weakens a storm.
3Relate stronger winds to lower central pressure and higher category.
4Identify the eye and the eyewall of a hurricane.

Questions teachers ask

Is the hurricane simulation free?

Yes. It is free to use in any modern browser, including interactive whiteboards and tablets. There is no sign-up and no download.

Why do hurricanes need warm water?

Warm ocean water, at least about 26.5 C, supplies the heat and moisture that power the storm. Rising moist air in the eyewall releases heat as it condenses, which keeps the storm going.

How do I weaken the hurricane?

Lower the Sea temperature or raise the Wind shear slider. The storm takes a few seconds to respond, and the Category, Max wind and Central pressure readouts follow.

Which way does a hurricane spin?

In the northern hemisphere it spins counter-clockwise, and in the southern hemisphere clockwise. This comes from the Coriolis effect caused by Earth's rotation.

Embed this simulation

Drop it into your LMS, blog, or class site — free.

<iframe src="https://kiwibee.io/en/simulations/hurricane-3d-simulation/embed" title="Hurricane | KiwiBee" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen style="width:100%;height:min(70vh,620px);min-height:420px;border:0;border-radius:16px"></iframe>

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