Tracking Hurricane Sandy Pete Arvedson California Science Conference October 26, 2013 Hosted by Satellite Educators Association Lesson Development supported by a grant from NOAA-CREST West

Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association What did you see? Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

What would you like to know more about? Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Lesson Objectives Observe severe storm action from space ID weather patterns Differentiate wind speed from storm speed Analyze satellite images of storms – ImageJ Analyze storm characteristics – GIS Apply skills to analysis of other storms Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Tropical Cyclones Not like frontal storms Cyclonic Require… Warm ocean water… At least 26.5˚C (79.7˚F) To depth at least 50m (164ft) Slowly rising air Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Tropical Cyclones HURRICANE HURRICANE TYPHOON CYCLONE Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association http://indigenouscaribbean.ning.com/group/archaeologyofthecircumcaribbean/forum/topics/the-ceremonial-taino-petaloid Huracán Taino people Puerto Rico Thunder and deluge caused by matriarch’s male attendants Columbus lost ships to huracán Notice Taino symbol for storm Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Hurricane Slowly rising Warm Moistened Air Circles Drawing more energy from warmer-than- usual water http://visibleearth.nasa.gov Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Hurricane http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2012/h2012_Sandy.html Horizontal bands of rain form arms of spiral Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Hurricane Eye Cooler air drawn down thru center Relatively calm clean air Eyewall – most destructive Wind direction same as storm’s forward motion http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Hurricanes/hurricanes_2.php Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Saffir-Simpson Scale for Hurricanes Category Sustained Wind Speed Damage (km/hr) (mph) (kt) 1 119-153 74-95 64-82 Some 2 154-177 96-110 83-95 Extensive 3 178-209 111-130 96-113 Devastating 4 210-249 131-155 114-135 Catastrophic 5 >249 >155 >135 Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Billion Dollar Storms Chris Dolce – The Weather Channel… 1900-early August 2011  27 “billion dollar storms” 8 of the “top ten” occurred since 2004 7 surpassed $10 billion mark.. 6 of those 7 occurred since 2004 3 rank in $10-$20 billion range… Ivan & Charley (2004) & Rita (2005) 3 rank in $20-$30 billion club Andrew (1992), Wilma (2005), Ike (2008) 1 at $108 billion damage – Katrina (2005) Hurricane Sandy – 2nd place at $65 billion in damage Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

HURRICANE KATRINA - AUGUST 2005 Data Source National Hurricane Center Past Advisory Archive http://www.nhc.noaa.gov HURRICANE KATRINA - AUGUST 2005 Adv Num Date UTC Wind (mph) Scale Press (mb) Center Lat (N) Lon (W) Direction Speed 19 28-Aug 0300 115 Cat 3 939 25.0 86.2 WNW 7 20 0600 145 Cat 4 935 25.1 86.8 8 21 0900 25.4 87.4 10 22 1200 160 Cat 5 908 25.7 87.7 12 23 1500 175 907 26.0 88.1 24 2100 165 902 26.9 89.0 NW 13 25 29-Aug 904 27.6 89.4 NNW 26 150 915 28.8 89.6 N 15 27 125 927 30.2 16 28 75 Cat 1 960 31.9 18 29 30-Aug 60 TS 973 33.5 88.5 NNE Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Display Storm with GIS http://www.arcgis.com/explorer/?open=d9fd1 3d5107d440889a672c13bdd2fad&extent=- 14096706.1206861,1121890.54653785,- 4596652.62920346,5304552.98653786 Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Measure Storm with ImageJ Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Cloud Field Measurement Results with ImageJ Sandy vs. Katrina Cloud Field Measurement Results with ImageJ Hurricane: Katrina Sandy Diameter: (miles) 370-450 800-850 Perimeter: (miles) 4616 6685 Area: (sq. miles) 153,470 482,922 Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Extend Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

California Science Standards Grade 6: Many phenomena on Earth’s surface are affected by the transfer of energy through radiation and convection currents. (d, e) Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. (a, d, h) Grade 7: Scientific progress is made by asking careful questions and conducting meaningful investigations. (a-e) Grade 8: The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position. (a- c) Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. (a, f) Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

California Science Standards Grades 9-12: Physics Energy cannot be created or destroyed, although in many processes energy is transformed to the environment as heat. (c) Grades 9-12: Chemistry Energy is exchanged or transformed in all chemical reactions and physical changes of matter. (a, c) Grades 9-12: Earth Sciences Heating of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents. (a, b, d) Grades 9-12: Investigation and Experimentation Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. (a, d, i) Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013

Satellite Educators Association Contact Information Pete Arvedson - arvedson@aol.com Check out lesson plans in Satellite Educators Association (SEA) monthly Newsletter… http://www.SatEd.org More opportunities to involve students doing research: SEA’s M.Y. S.P.A.C.E.* Program - an international high school collaborative environmental research program using satellite-based data… http://www.calstatela.edu/programs/crest/ * (Multinational Youth Studying Practical Applications of Climatic Events) Satellite Educators Association California Science Conference 2013