1. Severe Weather

2. The Water Cycle is the driving force behind all severe weather
Thunderstorms
Large storms with strong winds, thunder and lightning.
These are produced by cumulonimbus clouds.
Lightning
Areas of positive and negative electrical charges build up in a cloud
A sudden energy discharge between two areas
Can happen from cloud to ground, cloud to cloud or ground to cloud

4. Thunder
This happens when lightning occurs
Lightning heats the air to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit
This causes the air to expand rapidly, causing a “sonic boom”

5. Tornadoes These are produced by cumulonimbus clouds
Usually occur when a warm, humid air mass collides with a cool, dry air mass (cold front)
Hypothesis - Horizontal spinning turns vertical.

6. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9007188/ns/w eather-weather_news/t/birth-tornado/

10. Hurricanes Hurricanes begin as a tropical depression
Low pressure area (over warm tropical waters)
As it grows in size it becomes a tropical storm
If it increases in size and strength it becomes a hurricane
Once the winds reach 75 mph it becomes a hurricane
Hurricanes get their energy from the warm, humid air at the water’s surface rising and condensing

11. What causes hurricanes to move westerly toward the US East Coast?
TRADE WINDS
What direction do hurricanes rotate?
COUN TERCLOCKWISE
What are natural ways hurricanes are altered (buffered)?
BARRIER ISLANDS AND WETLANDS