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"Institutional" Categorization of Hurricanes

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Tue, 2012-10-09 23:42 — vstarostenko

A great example of Institutional Categorization is the hurricane categorization system that is used in the United States. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classifies hurricanes into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds. The scale – originally developed by wind engineer Herb Saffir and meteorologist Bob Simpson – has been an exceptional tool for alerting the public about the possible impacts of various intensity hurricanes. The initial scale was developed by Saffir, a structural engineer, who in 1969 went on commission for the United Nations to study low-cost housing in hurricane-prone areas. While performing the study, Saffir realized there was no simple scale for describing the likely effects of a hurricane. SSHS main purpose was to improve communication between scientists and relief organizations like Red Cross. Prior to the introduction of SSHS, there was no unambiguous and precise categorization system for classifying hurricanes.

Some criticize the SSHS classification as being too simple because only sustained wind speed is being used, but many hurricane experts point out that the SSHS does not take rain, speed of the storm, and other key factors into consideration because the point of the SSHS is to be simple.

http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/hurrcategories.htm