Climate change

6. Extreme events

STORM and CYCLONES

Goals

 -understand the cloud physics
 -understand the cyclones formations
 -understand the Coriolis effect
 -understand the differences between hurricanes and tornados

 Subject

Earth Science, Physics

Students age

14-18 y

Description

Activity1 (1h) :

Some pictures of differents cloud are shown or taken by students in an outdoor activity; their very specific shapes are determined by different physical processes in the atmosphere. We want to explain some of these processes and how clouds work, based on current knowledge in the fields of Meteorology and Physics. Website

Students can also contribute to NASA’s studies of our home planet using the new “GLOBE Observer” app.

Lab. activity1       Cloud chamber

Activity2: Research - What Are Hurricanes?

Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons are all the same weather phenomenon; we just use different names for these storms in different places. In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, the term “hurricane” is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a “typhoon” and “cyclones” occur in the South Pacific and IndianOcean. But there are differences between a tornado and a cyclone. Essay 

Lab.Activity 2          Experiments 

Lab.Activity 2b       After the Storm (ESA materials)

Activity3: CORIOLIS EFFECT

The Coriolis Effect is an apparent force that makes things (like planes or currents of air) traveling

long distances around the Earth appear to move at a curve as opposed to a straight line.

The Coriolis effect also works on the circulation of atmospheric air. In the northern hemisphere, air-

pressure differences (the so-called pressure gradient) and the Coriolis effect mean that winds move

in a clockwise direction around low- pressure centres (cyclonic flow) and in a clockwise direction

around high-pressure centres (anticyclonic flow). The situation is the exact opposite in the southern

Lab.Activity 3          Experiments   (previous video)

                                    Quiz ( ref. S.A)

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LESSON PLAN: AFTER THE STORM