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EXTRA 

Building on the current issue with more information for Educators

Fall 2009   printable .pdf version

 

Weather is an important part of the never-ending water cycle that exists within the environment.  At times weather conditions can be EXTREME!

Let's start off with a song! PRECIPITATION SONG    (To the tune of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins)   Precipitation Transpiration Ac-cum-u-la-tion   Condensation Infiltration E-va-por-a-tion   Water Cycle words are sure to cause some perspiration! Say them fast, you're sure to feel a little frustration!!!!!! water, water, water, water Now FASTER . . .    Precipitation Transpiration Accumulation   Condensation Infiltration Evaporation   Water Cycle words are sure to cause some perspiration! Say them fast; you're sure to feel a little frustration!!!!!! Petey Giroux   Georgia Project WET 2005

Weather Extremes

In Georgia, we experience some of the wildest weather in the world.  Although snowy blizzards are usually limited to the northern part of the state, we do encounter huge temperature swings, hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy rain showers and a lot of lightning strikes.  The mountains in the north and the generally humid, nearly subtropical climate in the rest of the state is ideal breeding ground for these extreme weather conditions. Modern weather forecasting has helped the public prepare for severe weather like never before.  Nearly all weather develops within a 5-mile atmospheric layer surrounding the earth, called the troposphere.  Meteorologists, or scientists who study and predict weather, play an important role in alerting us to threatening conditions.  Meteorology comes from the Greek word meteoron, meaning "concerning things in the air." In addition to basic instruments such as thermometers, hydrographs, weather vanes, anemometers, barometers and rain gauges, meteorologists use high-powered computer systems to monitor weather patterns.  High-tech tools such as satellites and Doppler radar systems are used with weather balloons, ocean buoys and other instruments.  The weather updates that we receive at home on our computers, radios, and TVs are accurate and up-to-date because of these powerful advances in technology.

Opposite Extremes -- Floods & Droughts

Extremely Wet (Floods) Flooding occurs when a land area that is normally dry becomes covered by water.  Floods cause more damage and threaten more lives than any other extreme weather condition.  Heavy rains make the water level in a body of water rise so fast that is overflows onto nearby areas. In Georgia, a measurable amount of rain falls on about 120 days each year, producing amounts averaging between 50 and 55 inches. Wettest month is March. Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months. On a typical year, thunder will be heard on 50 to 60 days. However excessive rainfalls from extreme weather conditions can cause rivers to overflow and inland areas to become covered with water.  Extremely Dry (Droughts) Drought conditions exist when precipitation is far below normal for a long period of time. In Georgia we normally receive significant amount of rain, so extremely dry conditions have a dramatic effect on our environment.  Wildlife must search for enough water to survive and agricultural activities suffer without adequate water supplies.  Vegetation becomes dry and parched, allowing wildfires to trigger easily and spread quickly.  Severe dry conditions over the past few years have caused us to enforce strict water conservation efforts.  Averaging over many years, driest months are September and October.

Venn Weather Diagram (right click on graphic to print) Use the information you learned about floods and droughts to complete the Venn diagram below.  Write the features that are unique to floods and droughts on each side.  The list the features in the overlapping area that may be common to both extreme weather conditions.

Weather Maps -- You can make one!

Weather maps are used to show a variety of data about atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, pressure systems and fronts.  In this activity, you will design your own weather map.  You can collect weather information from newspapers, TV and radio broadcasts, web sites and other sources.     1.  Print out the Southeastern Regional map below using a right click with the mouse. 2.  Collect information about today's weather using one of the sources described above. 3.  Draw the weather conditions on your map. 4.  Develop a legend to help interpret the symbols and colors used on your map. 5.  Add a title and the date of your forecast to your map and any other information that would be useful to the reader. 6.  When you have finished, share your map with other classmates.

Additional Challenge Create a bulletin board in the classroom using individual maps for each day of the week.  Include other forecasting information and articles abut current weather conditions.  Develop a journal of actual weather conditions each day and compare to the maps of forecasts.  Choose a country or state not your own and develop a weather map for the area.  How does it compare to the weather in Georgia?

Lightning Puzzler

We live in an area that is often called the lightning capital of the world.  Lightning can trigger forest fires, destroy buildings or even kill animals and people.  But lightning also helps to maintain a balance of electricity between the earth and sky.  When collisions of storm clouds cause electrical charges to separate, lightning works to restore stability in the atmosphere. Lightning can also be used to estimate how far you are from an approaching storm.   By counting the seconds between a lightning flash and the first clap of thunder, you can determine the approximate distance between you and storm.   How does this work? A.  To find out how many miles you are from a storm, divide the time between flash and thunder by 5. B.  To find the number of kilometers, divide the time between flash and thunder by 3. Time is given in hours: minutes: seconds Flash Time Thunder Time Miles Away Kilometers 3:10:01 3:10:26     5:15:06 5:15:17     2:30:30 2:31:00

Weather Extremes Concept Map A concept map can be used to diagram information.  Make a list of eight facts you learned about extreme weather patterns.  Write the facts on the lines surrounding the extreme weather circle.

Web Sites to explore for more . . .

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration     www.noaa.gov Long Range Weather Map      www.longrangeweather.com/Long-Range-Weather-Trends.htm USA Today Weather     asp.usatoday.com/weather/weatherfront.aspx Historical Global Weather Extremes Map   www.agc.army.mil/publications/..\images\MiscellMap.jpg

and Project WET introduces two new publications for you: Discover Floods Educators Guide This valuable 60-page resource helps educators teach students about both the risks and benefits of flooding through a series of engaging, hands-on activities. Acknowledging the different roles that floods play in both natural and urban communities, the book helps young people gain a global understanding of this common--and sometimes dangerous--natural phenomena that affects hundred of millions of people around the world each year.  $14.95 Discover Floods Student booklet When water is on the rise, students’ imaginations are bound to be swept away. Saturated with important-to-know facts and engaging hands-on activities, it’s a force of nature that’s ideal for making a splash in the classroom.  $1.25 Available on projectwet.org/store

 Activities suggestions from Southwest Florida Water Management District Splash Newsletter.

 

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