What is the science behind Hurricane Sandy?

What is the science behind Hurricane Sandy?

Sandy is a hybrid storm morphing from a tropical storm into a winter storm powered by temperature and pressure differences. This “Frankenstorm” is packed with cold air and snow along with wind and rain.

How did Hurricane Sandy affect the geosphere?

When Superstorm Sandy struck the United States on 30 October, it didn’t just devastate the Eastern Seaboard, it shook the ground as far away as the West Coast, producing tiny vibrations in Earth’s crust that were picked up by seismometers there. Scientists can use this activity to track the path of the storm.

How was Hurricane Sandy prepared for?

People stockpiled food, bought generators and chain saws, taped windows against the wind’s blast, and prepared to hunker down as Hurricane Storm Sandy conspired with the jet stream and a nor’easter to deliver several days of misery and destruction to the most populated section of the nation.

What are 5 facts about Hurricane Sandy?

Fast facts: Hurricane Sandy

• 147 people died.
• $70.2 billion worth of damage.
• 8.5 million people lost power.
• 650,000 homes destroyed.
• Record-breaking storm surges flooded New York and New Jersey.

What caused Hurricane Sandy to turn left?

Sandy was plowing northeastward, not much bothering the East Coast, when those clockwise winds swept down and hit her from the right, causing her to turn left — smack into the Mid-Atlantic states.

Why did Hurricane Sandy cause so much damage?

For Sandy, much of the damage was from the storm surge.” During Hurricane Sandy, the vast majority of economic damages were due to flooding, while only 0.01% of the damage came from high wind speeds.

How did Hurricane Sandy affect the hydrosphere?

The hurricane had a big impact on the change in water levels or the hydrosphere. Lithosphere to Atmosphere Rain falls from clouds in the atmosphere (air) to the lithosphere’s (land) rivers lakes and streams. The tearing down of many trees had a lasting effect of the vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the air.

How did Hurricane Sandy affect nature?

Dune and Beach Loss Storm surges, wave action, and winds cause beach and dune erosion and that can severely affect wildlife species. Many wildlife species live in ecological niches in the sandy areas and dunes of coastal barrier islands. In some cases the storm can cause a beach area to fully disappear.

How could Hurricane Sandy been prevented?

Sand dunes would need to be enhanced both ends to protect coastal communities of northern New Jersey, the Rockaways and Kennedy airport. A second barrier would need to be built across the upper East River to prevent surges originating in Long Island Sound from propagating through the East River into the Harbor.

How was wildlife affected by Hurricane Sandy?

Wildlife Impacts High winds and storm-driven water moved masses of coastal sediments, changing barrier landscapes, eroding important nesting islands, and blowing out dikes on impoundments managed specifically for migratory birds.

How many animals died in Hurricane Sandy?

The disaster drowned at least 4,000 rats and mice, along with 78 monkeys, 35 dogs, and 300 rabbits. (More than half the animals on campus had been living underground.)

How did Hurricane Sandy affect air quality?

In the aftermath of the hurricane, massive amounts of sand and construction debris became airborne. Increased pollutants from motor vehicles and demolition equipment were discharged. Unknown quantities of asbestos were released.

What were the three main factors that made Hurricane Sandy so devastating?

Pekar adds that Sandy was considered an unusual event, what many call a “perfect storm.” The collision of three elements contributed to Sandy’s severity: a powerful hurricane with the energy and moisture from above-normal sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean; an unusually shaped dip in the jet stream that …

How long did it take to recover from Hurricane Sandy?

Remodeling after Hurricane Katrina leveled out in January 2007 putting the primary recovery period at 18 months after the storm. Superstorm Sandy’s remodeling activity appeared to return to normal after around eight months later. After Hurricane Ike, the primary recovery period was around 16 months.