Reflection Essay 2

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Florida International University *

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2000

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Geography

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Dec 6, 2023

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Uploaded by Giovanni

Reflection Essay #2 Mary Charles 10/09/2023

Living in Florida exposes us to the idiosyncrasies of its weather, from occasional rain showers on sunny days to torrential downpours. Florida's climate maintains consistently warm temperatures year-round, with slightly cooler periods from December through February, albeit shorter and wetter in comparison to northern states (Getis et al. 2009: 95). Summers are characterized by extended periods of warmth, high humidity, and last from May to October. Florida's geographical location places most of the state in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere, close to the equator (Winsberg, M. D. n.d). The Gulf Stream/Florida current, a warm ocean current, significantly influences the state's climate. It contributes to warmer winters and cooler summers while playing a pivotal role in the creation and sustenance of the vibrant coral reefs and marine life in the Florida Keys (Sanctuary n.d). As Floridians, our lives are regularly disrupted by the looming threat of hurricanes, leading to moments of anxiety and pause. The formation of hurricanes is a complex process involving warm ocean air rising, creating an area of low pressure beneath it, which in turn draws in more air. This air rises, cools, forms clouds and thunderstorms, and the condensation of water in these clouds releases additional heat, fueling the storm (U.S. Department of Commerce 2013). One significant hurricane event worth mentioning is Hurricane Irma, which struck Florida in September 2017 as a formidable category four hurricane (Huber 2020). Irma's origin traces back to the Cape Verde Islands, starting as a tropical wave, a low- pressure system moving through the moisture-rich tropics. Within days, Irma had intensified into a category five hurricane with winds reaching 157 mph, wreaking havoc on Barbuda and parts of the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands. Subsequently, it made landfall, weakened as it progressed, and ultimately dissipated over Tennessee. During its course, Irma directly claimed 47 lives due to its powerful winds, and an additional 82 deaths were indirectly attributed to the hurricane. The

economic toll was also staggering, with an estimated $50 billion in damages incurred in the United States alone. Notably, hurricanes predominantly affect the east coast of the United States and are a rare occurrence on the west coast, primarily due to distinct oceanic conditions. Hurricanes necessitate warm ocean temperatures, typically exceeding 79 degrees Fahrenheit (Nunley 2022). Florida's Gulf Stream, depicted in Figure 1, generates the necessary warm current on the east coast for hurricane development, while the west coast experiences colder ocean temperatures and currents, making hurricane formation rare or virtually impossible. In summary, hurricanes are a frequent occurrence on Florida's east coast but remain absent on the west coast due to varying oceanic conditions. Their formation is intricately tied to the climate and environment of the Atlantic Ocean and their subsequent movement is propelled by the Gulf Stream toward the mainland.

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Ocean Currents Cenedese, C. (1998, July 20). Ocean current . Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https:// www.britannica.com/science/ocean-current

Bibliography Cenedese, C. (1998, July 20). Ocean current . Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https:// www.britannica.com/science/ocean-current Getis, A, Getis, J. and J. Fellmann. 2009. Introduction to geography. 12th edition. New York: McGraw Hill. Huber, C. (2020, February 28). 2017 hurricane Irma: Facts, faqs, and how to help . World Vision. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https:// www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news- stories/2017-hurricane-irma-facts#:~:text=Irma%20made%20landfall%20over %20the,Florida%20residents%20evacuated%20coastal%20areas. Nunley, A. C. (2022, September 28). Why hurricanes don't hit the U.S. West Coast . king5.com. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https:// www.king5.com/article/weather/why-hurricanes- dont-hit-us-west-coast/281-cef698b9-644a-4598-840a-ce4fd1320f02#:~:text=The%20two %20primary%20reasons%20the,be%20warmer%20than%2079%20degrees. Sanctuary, F. K. N. M. (n.d.). The Florida Current is a strong oceanic current flowing northward along the eastern coast of Florida carrying warm tropical waters that eventually feed the Gulf Stream . What is the Florida Current? Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ocean/flcurrent.html US Department of Commerce, N. O. and A. A. (2013, June 28). How do hurricanes form? NOAA's National Ocean Service. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/how-hurricanes-form.html#:~:text=Warm%20ocean

%20waters%20and%20thunderstorms,enhancing%20shower%20and%20thunderstorm %20activity. Winsberg, M. D. (n.d.). Climate of Florida - florida State University . climatecenter. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/images/fcc/climateofflorida.pdf

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