Hurricane effects on Texas ecoregions
This page will describe the effects that hurricans have on Texas ecoregions around the state.
WHat is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone (a storm system characterized with a center of low pressure and accompanied with thunderstorms that produce strong winds). A hurricane is an intense tropical weather system with strong thunderstorms and has winds of 74 mph or higher.
Effects:
Flooding
Hurricanes can cause severe floods. Not only can they cause floods from their initial downpour spot but also areas miles away inland. Usually 5-10 inches of rain fall during landfall, but there could be a greater amount if the hurricane is large and moving slow. These floods can
- destroy agriculture-crops, livestock, vegetation
- kill plants
- kill animals
- forces animals out of natural habitats or leaves them without a habitat
- biodiversity decreases
- chain reaction in food chains and webs
- air quality decreases
- to read more about floods go here
Storm surges
Hurricanes direct water towards the coast and once it reaches the shore, the water builds up and the hurricane's winds push the water above the shore. This causes the water level to rise slowly at first, but when the eye of the storm comes, the water level increases by large quantities. These quick rises in water level are called storm surges. They flood the land and also knock down structures with their immense force from the huge waves. Storm surges impact Texas ecoregions by
- moving large amounts of land which can reshape the coastal land
- beach erosion
- leaves coastlines more vulnerable to storms and floods
- destroys dunes
- islands are eroded below sea level
Winds
Banana crops destroyed by a hurricane
Winds of a hurricane vary from the minimum 74 mph to a destructive 155 mph. These winds can throw and toss things around and fling them into other objects such as buildings, uproot trees, or even knock down cable lines. The impacts the hurricane's winds have on the ecoregions in texas are
- defoliate forest canopies habitats and completely destroys forests and trees
- structural damage to wooded habitats
- kill plants by uprooting them
- destroys valuable crops and trees that may take years to get back
- uproots crops- fruit trees are extremely vulnerable to winds
- kill animals by flinging debris or imprisoning them under debris
- biodiversity decreases
- chain reaction in food webs and chains because of population decreases
- interferes with bird population and migration
Famous TExas Hurricanes
September 8, 1900- said to be one of the most destructive disaster in all of US hurricane history. It had winds up to 145 mph, and a death toll of from 6,000 to 12,000 people though the exact number is not known. Its storm surge of over 15 feet swept the whole island of Galveston. It destroyed over 3,000 homes and 20% of Galveston's population lost their lives-either crushed by debris or drowned. Later a ten-foot tall seawall was built to protect the inhabitants from further hurricanes
August 3, 1970- Hurricane Celia had winds that reached as high as 160 mph. It demolished numerous buildings and left a trail of debris behind in its path. Luckily, the death toll was low (11) due to the preparedness from the disaster prevention agencies.
September 13, 2008- You might remember going through hurricane Ike. It was the costliest hurricane in Texas with winds of 145 mph.
Below are pictures of the hurricane's destruction
August 3, 1970- Hurricane Celia had winds that reached as high as 160 mph. It demolished numerous buildings and left a trail of debris behind in its path. Luckily, the death toll was low (11) due to the preparedness from the disaster prevention agencies.
September 13, 2008- You might remember going through hurricane Ike. It was the costliest hurricane in Texas with winds of 145 mph.
Below are pictures of the hurricane's destruction
Bibliography
- "Effects of a Hurricane." The Weather Channel Kids. The Weather Channel, n.d. Web. 9 May 2013.
- "Hurricane Basics." National Atlas. United States Department of Interior, 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 09 May 2013.
- "Hurricanes." Home. FEMA, n.d. Web. 09 May 2013.
- "Hurricanes: Science and Society: Ecosystem Perspective: What Can a Hurricane Do to the Environment?" Hurricanes: Science and Society: Ecosystem Perspective: What Can a Hurricane Do to the Environment? University of Rhode Island, 2010-2011. Web. 09 May 2013.
- "What Is a Hurricane?" What Is a Hurricane? N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2013.