1. 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

2. Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

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

4. What would you like to know more about?
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California Science Conference 2013

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. Satellite Educators Association
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

9. Satellite Educators Association
Hurricane
Slowly rising
Warm
Moistened
Air
Circles
Drawing more energy from warmer-than- usual water
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

10. Satellite Educators Association
Hurricane
Horizontal bands of rain form arms of spiral
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

11. 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
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

12. Saffir-Simpson Scale for Hurricanes
Category
Sustained Wind Speed
Damage
(km/hr)
(mph)
(kt) 1
74-95
64-82
Some 2
96-110
83-95
Extensive 3
96-113
Devastating 4
Catastrophic 5
>249
>155
>135
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

13. 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

14. HURRICANE KATRINA - AUGUST 2005
Data Source
National Hurricane Center Past Advisory Archive
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

15. Satellite Educators Association
Display Storm with GIS
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California Science Conference 2013

16. Measure Storm with ImageJ
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California Science Conference 2013

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

18. Satellite Educators Association
Extend
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013

19. 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

20. 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

21. Satellite Educators Association
Contact Information
Pete Arvedson -
Check out lesson plans in Satellite Educators Association (SEA) monthly Newsletter…
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…
* (Multinational Youth Studying Practical Applications of Climatic Events)
Satellite Educators Association
California Science Conference 2013