| | power outage -- a period with no electricity, often caused by storms
tropical storm -- a weather system with winds of at least 35 miles per hour
hurricane -- a tropical storm with winds of at least 74 miles per hour
air pressure
Definition: The weight per unit of area of a column of air that reaches to the top of the atmosphere.
Context: Areas of high air pressure, or high-pressure systems, usually have clear skies, and areas of low air pressure, or low-pressure systems, usually have clouds.
atmosphere
Definition: The layer of air that surrounds Earth and is made up of nitrogen (about 78 percent), oxygen (about 21 percent), and miscellaneous gases (about 1 percent).
Context: Our weather takes place in the lower part of the atmosphere.
front
Definition: A narrow zone of transition between air masses that differ in temperature or humidity.
Context: Most changes in the weather occur along fronts.
humidity
Definition: A measure of the amount of moisture in the air in the form of invisible water vapor.
Context: Humidity is important for making weather forecasts, because it can help scientists predict precipitation.
meteorologist
Definition: A scientist who studies the weather.
Context: Meteorologists use different types of maps to report the weather.
precipitation
Definition: Moisture that falls from clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Context: Without rain or other forms of precipitation, the ground becomes dry, and crops cannot grow.
temperature
Definition: The measure of the heat energy of the gases in the air.
Context: Changes in temperature lead to changes in air pressure, bringing different kinds of weather.
weather
Definition: The state of the atmosphere at a given time in a particular place.
Context: The three main factors of weather are humidity, air pressure, and temperature.
wind
Definition: The movement of air, which tends to move from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area.
Context: Winds are named for the direction from which they blow, so an easterly wind blows from the east.
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| | Facts about hurricanes | Hurricanes are given names in alphabetical order, with alternating male and female names. For example, in 2005, hurricanes are to be named in this order: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilmathe. This hurricane name list will be used again in seven years, in 2012. If any one of the 2005 hurricanes causes major damage, that hurricane's name will be retired and not used again in 2012.
Have you ever heard the terms typhoon or cyclone? Those are other names for a hurricane. The term typhoon is used when referring to hurricanes that happen in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The term cyclone is used when referring to hurricanes that happen in the Indian Ocean or the Southwest Pacific Ocean.
In May, hurricane forecasters predicted eight hurricanes would form this season. Of those storms, four would be major hurricanes (with winds of at least 111 miles an hour). Due to particularly storm-friendly climate conditions, however, forecasters have recently revised those numbers upward. They now think 10 hurricanes will form, and that six will become major hurricanes.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale helps scientists classify the intensity of hurricanes as Category 1 (winds 74-95 miles per hour), Category 2 (96-110 mph), Category 3 (111-130 mph), Category 4 (131-155 mph), or Category 5 (156 mph or greater).
The 2004 season -- during which four powerful hurricanes struck Florida -- was the most expensive on record. It caused about $45 billion in damages.
Mid-August to September 10 is considered "peak hurricane season."
The 1933 hurricane season was the most active on record. That year, 21 tropical storms formed, creating 10 hurricanes, 5 of which became major hurricanes.
(Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World) |
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| | Become a FEMA Kid! | | Be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. Learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid. ( |
| | | | | | | | | | | National Standards We've covered with our Hurricane Unit | National Standards
National Standards
SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.K-4.5 Science and Technology
NS.K-4.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.5-8.5 Science and Technology
NS.5-8.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
GRADES 9 - 12
NS.9-12.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.9-12.5 Science and Technology
NS.9-12.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society
TECHNOLOGY
GRADES K - 12
NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts
Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2005 Education World
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