Atmosphere Composition Nitrogen  78% Oxygen  21% Other  about 1% Nitrogen  78% Oxygen  21% Other  about 1%

Hurricanes vs. Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Hurricane Definition: Severe tropical storm with heavy rain that has wind speeds that exceed 74 mph Definition: Severe tropical storm with heavy rain that has wind speeds that exceed 74 mph

How do hurricanes form?

Step 1: Water evaporates, into the atmosphere, from ocean water that is close to the equator and is at least 80°F.

Step 2: Storm clouds form in the atmosphere out of the evaporated water

Step 3: Winds close to the oceans surface draw up more and more water vapor into the center of the storm clouds making them larger and larger \

Step 4: The rotation of the Earth causes the storm clouds to spin and wind pushes the storm clouds along the ocean.

Clip on How Hurricanes Form U0

Weather Conditions Associated with Hurricanes 1. Heavy rain 2. Strong winds 3. Storm surge

Storm Surge Definition: Ocean water that is pushed towards shore by the force of winds moving cyclonically * Causes an abnormal rise in water levels on shore * Definition: Ocean water that is pushed towards shore by the force of winds moving cyclonically * Causes an abnormal rise in water levels on shore *

Animation of Storm Surge rricane_stormsurge.swf

How Scientists Track Hurricanes 1)Weather satellites 2)Radar 3)Specialized Planes “Hurricane Hunters” 1)Weather satellites 2)Radar 3)Specialized Planes “Hurricane Hunters” Hurricane Sandy taken by radar scatterometer on the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Oceansat-2

Clip – Hurricane Hunters wQ

Several days in advance Hurricane Warnings Can Be Given…

Scale Used to Measure a Hurricane’s Severity Scale based on the wind speed of the hurricane Scale Used: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale Scale based on the wind speed of the hurricane Scale Used: Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Examples of Damage Hurricanes Can Cause 1)Beach erosion 2)Flooding 3)Destruction of docks, houses, buildings, roads etc. 4)Uprooting plants

Tornadoes

Supercell Thunderstorm Definition: An extremely intense thunderstorm that grows very quickly due a strong updraft of moist surface air Definition: An extremely intense thunderstorm that grows very quickly due a strong updraft of moist surface air

Characteristics: Rotates Hail Torrential rain Strong winds Characteristics: Rotates Hail Torrential rain Strong winds Supercell Thunderstorm

Clip CLIP- Supercell Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

Tornado Definition: a small rotating column of air that has high wind speeds and touches the ground Definition: a small rotating column of air that has high wind speeds and touches the ground

How Tornadoes Form The horizontally rotating supercell thunderstorm is flipped vertically by the thunderstorm’s updraft

Clip – How Tornadoes Form

Weather Condition Associated With Tornadoes High winds ** As well as the same condition associated with supercell thunderstorms **

How Scientists Track Tornadoes Doppler Radar a radar tracking system using the Doppler effect to determine the location and velocity of the storm. of a storm, clouds, precipitation, etc.

Clip – Doppler Radar we-know/how-do-we-know-tracking-tornados/

In roughly 13 minutes or less Tornado Warnings Can Be Given…

Why Scientists Can’t Accurately Predict Tornadoes spin-supercell-thunderstorms.html

Scale Used to Measure a Tornado’s Severity Enhanced Fujita Scale

Examples of Damage Tornadoes Can Cause 1)Destruction of houses, buildings, roads, bridges etc. 2)Uprooting plants 1)Destruction of houses, buildings, roads, bridges etc. 2)Uprooting plants