WEATHER Its causes and effects Investigation 1- What is Weather? • Enduring Understanding: • Weather is a condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a given time in a given place. • Learning Goals: • I will identify severe weather and its potential to cause death and destruction in the environment. • I will identify the proper use of weather measurement tools. Quick Write • What is weather? • Write your answer in your Science Journal. Today’s Weather • Is today’s weather normal for this time of year? • What would you expect normally? • Is this the kind of weather you would expect to happen everywhere on Earth today? Explain. “THINGS THAT FALL FROM THE SKY” DVD in FOSS Kit “Hurricane” Click on “Hurricane” to Play Video Video Questions • What is a hurricane? – An area of low pressure into which air rushes, creating powerful winds that spiral. The winds blow at least 75mph. • What conditions are necessary for a hurricane to form? – An ocean where the water temperature is 27C (81F) or higher. An area of low pressure. • What kinds of damage occur during hurricanes? – Wind and water damage, flooding. Video Questions • What are some things people have done to try to lesson hurricane damage? – Moved entire cities, improved hurricane forecasts to help people be prepared for securing property or evacuating, build seawalls, built houses on stilts. • Where have some of the most devastating hurricanes occurred and when? – Galveston, 1900. Belize, Hurricane Hattie, 1961. Galveston, Hurricane Alecia, 1983. Caribbean Islands, Hurricane Gilbert, 1988. Bangladesh, 1991. Florida, Hurricane Andrew, 1992. • How do meteorologists know when a hurricane is coming and where it might strike land? – Ground observations, aircraft observations, satellite images. Video Questions • What surprised you about the weather shown in the video? • Weather that is dangerous or causes damage is called severe weather. Have you ever experienced severe weather? If so, what? • What other types of severe weather have you heard or read about? HOMEWORK • Bring in a copy of a local weather report. –Either cut it from a newspaper, print it from the internet, or write down what you hear from the TV/radio weather report. WEATHER Its causes and effects Investigation 1- What is Weather? • Enduring Understanding: • Weather is a condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a given time in a given place. • Learning Goals: • I will identify severe weather and its potential to cause death and destruction in the environment. • I will identify the proper use of weather measurement tools. READING: “Naming Hurricanes” page 3 Weather Questions • The video segment and reading gave us some things to think about and may have raised some questions. You might have some other questions about weather that we experience where we live. • Everyone will write 3 or 4 questions you have about weather. Weather Questions • Share your questions with your group. • Each group will share ONE question with the class. METEOROLOGY • The word meteorology literally means the study of meteors. That may sound like it doesn’t have much to do with weather, but in ancient Greece, anything that fell from the sky was considered a meteor, whether it was what we know as a meteor today, rain, snow, or hail. METEOROLOGY • The scientific study of Earth’s weather is called meteorology. A person who studies the causes and effects of Earth’s weather is a meteorologist. METEOROLOGY • Today meteorology includes only the study of weather. Planetary scientists study meteors. Some meteorologists study weather in order to make predictions or forecasts to let people know what kind of weather to expect the next day or the next week. FORECASTS • Who would use a weather forecast and what decisions might they make based on them? – How people dress for the day – Travel plans (air travel) – Health issues (allergies, colds) – Business people (umbrellas, snow gear, swimsuits) – Vacation or recreation plans (camping, sailing, picnics, mini-golf) – Gardening, Farming (spring planting, harvesting) WORD BANK • Severe Weather- weather that is dangerous or causes damage. • Forecast- prediction about weather. • Meteorology- the scientific study of Earth’s weather. • Meteorologist- A person who studies the causes and effects of Earth’s weather Understanding Weather Video