3. atmosphere
atmospheric scientist
risk
weather

4. Brainstorm
Brainstorm a list of types of weather disasters. Record your list in your notebook.

5. Which of these types of weather disasters do you think have most severely affected the United States?
Share your thoughts with the class.

6. Are there any events that have occurred since the year 2000 that you would want to add to the list?
Share your thoughts with the class.

7. Read the introduction and look for key ideas

8. How are weather disasters different from everyday weather?

9. Complete the procedure

10. Class data
Share your survey responses with the class and compile your answers.

11. Analysis question 1
a. According to the class data, what type of weather disaster is most common in your area? b. When did such a disaster last occur? c. What can you do to prepare for such a disaster if it happens again?

12. Analysis question 2
Use your class data to create a bar graph of the number of times different types of weather disasters have occurred locally. Be sure to label your axes and to title your graph.

13. Analysis question 3
Look again at the risk maps on page E-9 of Activity 50, “Weather Effects.” Did your class survey results support your local risk of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, as indicated by the maps?

14. Analysis question 4
Do you think that the survey was a reliable method for finding out what weather disasters have occurred in your area in the past 30 years? Why or why not?

15. Analysis question 5
Reflection: Which type of weather disaster are you most concerned about? Why?

16. How are weather disasters different from everyday weather?

17. Key vocabulary definitions
Atmosphere - The gases that surround a planet or moon. On Earth, the air. Atmospheric scientist - Scientist who studies the atmosphere.

18. Key vocabulary definitions
Risk - The chance that a particular action or event could result in something unfavorable, such as injury or death. Weather - The condition of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and cloud cover, at a particular time and place.