Everything in our world for some reason can be given a number. From our national identification card to meal options. It is used to clearly identify specific objects and even arrange into a scale. This was the concept that lead to the creation of the popular Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) which is mostly used in the Atlantic and North and Central Pacific basins. (Personally this was the easiest scale to remember as the other scales were coded and had to depend on a computer to interpret. Granted, the computer was more accurate with all the factors considered.)
As the name suggest it was created by Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson in 1971 to easily identify the levels of a hurricane. In the original scale rated 1-5, it categorized a hurricane based on the wind speed to the destruction of the surroundings, effects of storm surges and flooding. In the last decade, improvements were made to the scale to increase accuracy, by removing flood ranges, storm surges, rainfall and location [1]. The improved SSHWS only measures the wind speed and the potential destruction on infrastructure.
Image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Category 1:
Usually can destroy flimsy homes, tear off unsecured galvanized roofs, uproot shallow trees and snap tree branches. Can topple power lines.
Category 2:
Can destroy wooden structures and parts of buildings, uproot numerous trees (can block roads) and destroy power lines.
Category 3:
Considered a major hurricane. Can destroy parts of well made buildings, blow away roofs, uproot trees, destroy power lines and cut off water lines. Roads may become impassable.
Category 4:
Considered a major hurricane. Can destroy external walls of buildings and rip off roofs, destroy trees, power lines and water lines. Roads may be impassable and the area can become extremely dangerous to live in.
Category 5:
Considered a major hurricane. Can destroy whole buildings. Flaten trees, power lines, cut off water lines. Roads will become unusable and the area unfit to live in for several months [2].
Video credit: The COMET Program/MetEd
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment