1. Warm-up 2/12/18 & 2/13/18 Describe what a natural disaster is.
What are some examples of natural disasters?
Do you think that there are natural disasters that are predictable? If so, which types?
Do you think that there are natural disasters that are not predictable? If so, which types?

2. 12 Worst Natural Disasters
The picture is a hyperlink to a video
12 Worst Natural Disasters

3. What if they had a warning?

4. Objective: I will be able to describe several methods that engineers use to predict, minimize, or eliminate the effects of natural disasters by creating a PSA video.
Technology to Predict Natural Disasters
2/12/18 & 2/13/18
Page 48

5. Last week you were engineers that built bridges…
Today you will be engineers that understand the causes and behavior of our planet’s natural forces so that you can help people survive natural disasters.
Why is detecting natural disasters important?
Detecting, predicting and warning about hazards help populations evacuate and/or seek shelter.

6. Engineering Design
Engineers design weather instruments, radar and satellites to collect data and make predictions.
Sometimes engineers make devices that trigger smaller hazards in order to prevent larger ones.

7. Natural hazards vs. Natural Disasters
A natural hazard is a natural event that has the possibility to cause damage
A natural disaster is a natural hazard that affects human populations.
ex: Volcano, earthquake, tsunami, flood, hurricane, tornado, avalanche, forest fire, thunderstorm, and landslide.

8. Avalanche Mortars
Explosive projectiles that are launched at a slope where an avalanche is likely to occur.
Designed by engineers to prevent natural disasters by triggering small avalanches before enough snow builds up to cause a catastrophic avalanche.
The explosion shakes the snow loose from the slope causing a small avalanche.
Problems with this technology:
prone to wind movement and dud mortars which can leave a live explosive on the mountain.

9. D.A.R.T. Monitoring System
(Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis)
Engineers design these special buoys that can be left far out to sea to detect tsunamis waves early, allowing time for evacuations.
The sensor information is sent to the buoy and relayed to tsunami centers via satellites.
The buoys are placed far away from the coast in order to detect a tsunami with the maximum amount of time made available to warn coastal residents.

10. Seismometer A device used to detect vibrations on the Earth's surface
Consists of a mass suspended by a string that is allowed to swing as Earth shakes
Can detect earthquakes that are not even felt by humans
Often placed near fault lines to detect very small earthquakes

11. Doppler Radar
Designed by engineers to detect thunderstorms and tornados
They work by sending out radio waves, then measuring how long it takes the wave to bounce off of rain or hail and return.
Information received can determine the size of the storm, how fast it is moving, in which direction it is moving, and if there is danger of a tornado.
Radar stations are often placed in flat areas where tornados usually occur.

12. Tiltmeter
Engineers designed tiltmeters that can detect small changes in the shape of volcanoes.
One indication that a volcano is about to erupt is that the mountain grows larger as magma moves up towards the surface.
Devices are placed directly on the sides of volcanoes to help us predict any upcoming eruptions

13. Flood Gauge
A vertical post marked with water depth that is placed in rivers and streams that can flood
If the water rises over a certain level, nearby communities are evacuated to prevent the loss of lives

14. Jupiter – D/L 2-12-18 and 2-13-18 NATURAL DISASTERS MAP
The President of the United States has just called and wants our engineers to place some disaster prevention devices around our country to help minimize the impact of the many natural hazards in and around the U.S.
Create a key on the map for each of the different types of devices we just discussed (ex., flood gauge, titltmeter, etc.).
On the map, place a symbol for each of the different types of devices in the appropriate region that would require that type of device.

16. Public Service Announcement
Create a PSA on iMovie where you warn a part of the country of your choice about a natural hazard that may one day become a natural disaster. YOU WILL BE CREATING A MADE-UP NEW TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY! Not just one of the ones we discussed.
Your PSA can include:
The technology used to predict the disaster (something new that YOUR GROUP designed! You don’t have to actually make it…)
An evacuation map
Information on the last natural disaster of that type
Items to include in an emergency kit
What to do or not do in case of an emergency.
You will need to research this information!

17. Innovative Technology
Earthquake Detector

18. What to do NOW Decide who will discuss which parts of the PSA
Research information that you will discuss in the PSA
Brainstorm and decide on what new technology you will invent to help warn citizens about a natural disaster that will soon occur.
DRAW a model of your new technology on page47 (left side) and come up with a name for it!
Write a script for your PSA video
You will have next class period to film