Download Tornadoes and Hurricanes

Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Competency
4c – DOK 2
8th Grade –
Lesson 8.8
Name: ____________________________________ Period: ____
Examine weather forecasting and describe how meteorologists use
atmospheric features and technology to predict the weather.
I can explain the conditions which give rise to tornadoes and
hurricanes and where they are likely to occur.
Page
8
Unit 8 – Weather: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Quick Review:
1. Give two populations preyed on by large crabs? Sea
stars and sessile invertebrates
2. What is a predator of sea urchins? Sea otters
3. Where do octopuses get energy? Large crabs and
smaller predatory fishes and invertebrates
Classify the organism as a producer (P), consumer (C), or
decomposer (D).
4. Kelp: P
5. Large crabs: C or D
6. Sea otter: C
7. Algae: P
Key Points on Tornadoes and Hurricanes:
1. Tornadoes develop out of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are the result of warm, moist,
low pressure air that rises. This is called an updraft.
a. When winds produced by the storm blow in opposite directions, the air can
begin rotating horizontally to the ground.
b. As updrafts push higher, the rotating air is pushed into a vertical position. This is
called a mesocyclone and is basically a large turning cloud in the sky. This is
likely to form a tornado.
c. When cold air from high in the atmosphere begins to sink toward the ground
(downdraft), it can bring part of the mesocyclone to the ground turning it into a
tornado.
d. Wind speeds range from 100 MPH to 300 MPH.
e. Tornadoes usually occur in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States
during the spring and fall.
2. Hurricanes develop over warm tropical oceans that are at least 80°F. Most hurricanes
that impact the U.S. start as thunderstorms off the coast of Africa. These are called
tropical disturbances.
a. These thunderstorms have low pressure and very moist air. As the air rises, it
condenses forming clouds. This releases heat which further lowers the pressure
causing the air to rise more.
b. Cold, dense air rushes down from high in the atmosphere causing wind. This
cold air is heated by the water and begins to rise, creating a cycle with larger
and larger clouds forming and winds increasing in speed.
c. The moving air is impacted by the Coriolis effect which causes it to begin
rotating counterclockwise.
d. While the disturbance is over warm water, it will continue to strengthen. When
winds reach 74 MPH, it is declared a hurricane.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Competency
4c – DOK 2
8th Grade –
Lesson 8.8
Name: ____________________________________ Period: ____
Examine weather forecasting and describe how meteorologists use
atmospheric features and technology to predict the weather.
I can explain the conditions which give rise to tornadoes and
hurricanes and where they are likely to occur.
Page
8
Unit 8 – Weather: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Quick Review:
1. Give two populations preyed on by large crabs?
2. What is a predator of sea urchins?
3. Where do octopuses get energy?
Classify the organism as a producer (P), consumer (C), or
decomposer (D).
4. Kelp:
5. Large crabs:
or
6. Sea otter:
7. Algae:
.
Key Points on Tornadoes and Hurricanes:
1. Tornadoes develop out of
. Thunderstorms are the result of
,
,
air that
. This is called an
.
a. When winds produced by the storm blow in
, the air can
begin
horizontally to the ground.
b. As updrafts push higher, the rotating air is pushed into a
position.
This is called a
and is basically a large turning cloud in the sky.
This is likely to form a
.
c. When cold air from high in the atmosphere begins to
toward the
ground (
), it can bring part of the mesocyclone to the ground
turning it into a
.
d. Wind speeds range from
MPH to
MPH.
e. Tornadoes usually occur in the
and
during the
and
.
2. Hurricanes develop over
that are at least
.
Most hurricanes that impact the U.S. start as
off the coast of
.
These are called tropical
.
a. These thunderstorms have
and very
air. As the air
, it
forming
. This releases
which
further
the pressure causing the air to
more.
b.
,
air rushes down from high in the atmosphere causing
.
This cold air is
by the water and begins to
, creating a cycle
with larger and larger clouds forming and winds
in speed.
c. The moving air is impacted by the
effect which causes it to
begin
.
d. While the disturbance is over
, it will continue to
.
When winds reach
MPH, it is declared a
.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Name: ____________________________________ Period: ____
Tornadoes: Guided Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
The very violent thunderstorms that are very likely to cause tornadoes =
The other name for a mesocyclone =
of
Why is a tornado darkly colored?
The name of the rating scale of tornadoes =
. Smallest =
; largest =
Hurricanes: Guided Practice
1. The area of low pressure in the center of a hurricane =
2. Hurricanes that occur near Asia =
3. The main tool that meteorologists use to study hurricanes =
Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Independent Practice
Answer the following questions as a scientist would. Explain WHY using COMPLETE sentences!
1. What must be present for a tornado to form?
2. What is a mesocyclone? Is this a tornado?
3. What causes a tornado to touchdown on the ground?
4. When and where are tornadoes likely to form?
5. What must be present for a hurricane to occur?
6. Where are most hurricanes “born”?
7. What causes a hurricane to rotate?
8. When is a tropical depression declared a hurricane? What causes this to occur?