Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development

I can understand how tropical storms develop as a result of particular atmospheric conditions and where they are found.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development

I can understand how tropical storms develop as a result of particular atmospheric conditions and where they are found.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Tropical storms have distinctive structural characteristics and are widely distributed within the tropics.
  2. Tropical storms are related to the atmospheric circulation and are formed by particular meteorological conditions.
  3. Tropical storms form in source areas, intensify as they track over oceans and then dissipate.
  4. Climate change may affect the distribution, frequency and intensity of tropical storms.

Keywords

  • Coriolis effect - deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation

  • Wind shear - the change in wind speed and direction at different altitudes

  • Latent heat - the energy stored in water vapour when it evaporates, that is released when the vapour condenses back into liquid water

  • Climate change - long-term changes in Earth's climate, mainly caused by human activities which increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Common misconception

Tropical storms can form over land.

Tropical storms form over warm ocean waters where they can draw energy from the heat and moisture. Once over land, they lose their energy source and weaken.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To support the formation of tropical storms, animated clips or videos can help students to understand more clearly the processes taking place.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the process by which water turns into vapour?
condensation
Correct answer: evaporation
precipitation
Q2.
What does the term distribution mean?
Correct answer: it describes how something is spread out
it describes how something is formed
it describes the damage an event can cause
Q3.
What term describes the movement of air from high to low pressure, often causing weather changes?
Correct answer: wind
currents
tides
cycles
Q4.
Cloudless skies, dry conditions and stable weather is expected of what type of air pressure?
Correct answer: high pressure
low pressure
variable pressure
Q5.
What is significant about the equator in terms of global weather patterns?
it has no significant impact on weather patterns
it is the coldest part of Earth, influencing global weather patterns
Correct answer: it is the warmest part of Earth, influencing global weather patterns
Q6.
What term describes where the two Hadley cells meet at the equator?
Correct answer: Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Equatorial Low Pressure Belt
Tropical Cyclone Zone

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Where are tropical storms usually found?
Correct answer: between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
in the middle of continents
near to the poles
Q2.
What is the required sea surface temperature for tropical storms to form?
at least 10°C
Correct answer: at least 27°C
at least 32°C
Q3.
The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms to ...
1 - r
2 - o
3 - t
4 - a
5 - t
6 - e
Q4.
How do tropical storms lose strength?
Correct answer: by moving over land or cooler waters
by moving over warmer waters
by staying stationary
Q5.
What are the conditions in the eye of a tropical storm?
highest wind speeds and most severe weather
the area with the most rainfall
Correct answer: calm and clear weather with low wind speeds
Q6.
In what ways is climate change affecting tropical storms?
frequency
Correct answer: intensity
Correct answer: distribution