Sc News
August, 2011 Issue 12
Event: Hurricane Irene hits Eastern USA
Time Line of Irene:
Hurricane Irene viewed on 8/24 by the ISS (NASA)
+ Aug. 24th - Category 3 Hurricane east of Cuba (wind speeds reached 115 mph)
+ Aug. 27th - Category 1 Hurricane makes landfall in North Carolina (winds speeds @ 74 mph)
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+ Aug. 28ⁿd - Tropical Storm makes landfall in New York
Project website: http://sese.asu.edu/teacher-resources
Event Description
Lesson Description
along major roads to mark
routes for hurricane evacuation
In this lesson students make observations on Hurricane Irene and
use a data table from NOAA to graph the number and type of
tropical cyclones observed per month from 1851-2010.
(1) Introduce the event by viewing media sites/videos such as
NASA satellite videos. Ask students to describe the hurricane and
record their observations. (2) Discuss the different categories of
cyclones using the Cyclone Classification Sheet. Ask students to
predict in which month(s) they think the most Tropical Storms
occur, and ask for reasons why. (3) Pass out the NOAA data table
and the Hurricane Graph or plain graph paper. Have students plot
up the NOAA data and assess their prediction. Ask older students
for calculations based on the graph such as finding the % of tropical
storms that become hurricanes.
Lesson Materials - download on the SciNews Website:
*Educator Background Material: NOAA Hurricane Basics handbook*
(1) Videos/Media on Hurricanes: see website for links
(2) Cyclone Classification Sheet: overview document
(3a) NOAA data table: # of hurricanes per month since 1851
(3b) Hurricane Graph: graph for plotting the NOAA data table; 4 different
versions are included for different grade levels (& a completed graph)
Targeted Arizona State Standards (6th - 8th grade)
Strand 1, Concept 3: Analysis and Conclusions - (PO1) Analyze
data obtained in a scientific investigation to identify trends.
(grades 6-8) Strand 1, Concept 4: Observations, Questions, and Hypotheses (PO1) Choose an appropriate graphic representation for collected data.
(grade 6) Strand 3, Concept 1: Changes in Environments - (PO2) Evaluate the
effects of natural hazards (hurricanes).
(grades 6-8)
- Location Path of Hurricane
Irene (snapshot on
8/28/2011)
colored- coded by
wind speed/storm
Aug. 28 2011 type as it makes its
way up the Eastern
North Atlantic Ocean
Coast of the USA.
tropical
storm
category 1
Graph of Irene Wind Speeds
category 2
131 mph
111 mph
96 mph
74 mph
39 mph
category 3
g.
Au
category 2
21
g.
Au
26
category 1
tropical storm
- Imagery -
Each year hurricane season for the Northern Atlantic Ocean
(officially June 1st to November 30th) peaks in late August through
September when sea surface temperatures are the highest. The
term ‘tropical cyclone’ is used to describe a low pressure system
that generally forms in the tropics, is accompanied by thunderstorm activity, and rotates counterclockwise in the northern
hemisphere (NOAA). Depending on wind speeds, tropical cyclones
are classified as tropical storms, tropical depressions, and hurricanes (categorized 1-4). As the first hurricane of the 2011 season,
Hurricane Irene grew to a category 3 off the coast of Florida before
hitting the coastal regions of North Carolina to Maryland as a
category 1. In these areas it caused widespread coastal erosion &
flooding from the storm surge & wind damage. Although Irene was
downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved
north, heavy rains caused extensive flooding in
low lying regions of New York and Vermont due
to swelling creeks and reservoirs, and heavy
mountain runoff. To view and track current
tropical cyclones as they develop worldwide
Signs like this one are posted
visit http://crisislanding.appspot.com/
Hurricane Irene
-4ne
-3ca
-2- urri
h
-1tropical
storm
tropical
depression
1
pt.
Se
source: modified
from nytimes.com
Outer Banks
North Carolina
N
North
Carolina
Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project
Windham, NY
road
Credit: Nathan Brooks: NYT
Credit: NOAA
Informational Websites: (links provided on the SciNews website)
+ NOAA National Hurricane Center
+ USGS Hurricane Irene Activities
+ FEMA Hurricane Response
+ Google Maps displaying Hurricane Info
+ NASA Imagery and Videos of Hurricane Irene
Alternative Lesson Plan: (link provided on the SciNews website)
+ CREATE-A-CANE: fun interactive online lesson from NOAA;
students create the most ideal hurricane conditions
Created by Erin DiMaggio
ASU/NASA Space Grant Fellow
Funded by ASU/NASA Space Grant
(http://nasa.asu.edu/)
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