After you investigate the Interactive Lab - Tropical Cyclones, answer the following questions.

a) What is the source of the energy that fuels a hurricane?

b) During which month(s) are Atlantic tropical cyclones most frequent? Why?

c) What is the general path followed by Atlantic hurricanes?

(Interactive laboratory modules developed by Gregory Carbone, University of South Carolina, copyright © 2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc.)

Write a brief paragraph describing the difference between a tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, and a hurricane.

Describe the Saffir-Simpson scale and how hurricane severity and damage are related to the scale numbers (categories).

Briefly describe each of the three classes of damage caused by hurricanes.

Examine the hurricane information at this Discovery.com site.

Of the four variables listed on the "Create a Hurricane" interactive, an increase in which one will actually cause the size and intensity of the hurricane to diminish?

Examine the information about classic hurricanes listed at this Unisys Corporation site. Which Atlantic hurricane recorded the lowest pressure ever? What was the pressure? Which hurricane was the most destructive to hit the U.S. mainland? Describe the path of the storm. What was the cost to the damage?

Why does the intensity of a hurricane often diminish as it moves from the sea to the land?

Using this hurricane/tropical data presented by the Unisys Corporation and the National Hurricane Center, write a short description of any current Atlantic hurricane activity as well as a summary of the previous Atlantic hurricane season events.