b. Jamaica is surrounded by deep ocean waters, while Grand Bahama Island is surrounded by shallow waters. Given a direct landfall by hurricanes of similar intensity, which island will experience the greater storm surge? Why?

Answer: Jamaica which is surrounded by deep ocean waters

Explanation: storms begins with

a rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind changes. Atmospheric pressure and wind changes are more dominant between the deep oceans and earth surfaces. In the deep oceans there are seismic waves which when combined with the difference in atmospheric pressure they trigger the storm.

Storm surge refers to the water from the ocean that is pushed toward the shore by wind during a hurricane. This force is usually the deadliest element of a hurricane. When storm surge is combined with waves, it can cause extensive damage. Not only can objects such as boats and buildings be affected, but this can also cause great damage to the natural environment. In this example, Jamaica is more likely to be affected severely by storm surge, as the water near the island is deeper.