Tornadoes, Hurricanes, andGlobal Weather

Tornadoes, Hurricanes, andGlobal Weather

Mr. Jason Simpson

What is SCALE? What is SCALE?

MeasurementMeasurement A Thing ona Fish

A Thing ona Fish

An ActionAn Action

SCALE is related to the ____ of an object AND

the ____ it is active or is occurring.

SCALE is related to the ____ of an object AND

the ____ it is active or is occurring. TIME

SIZE

METEOROLOGY: The study of the atmosphereand the weather that happens in it.

METEOROLOGY: The study of the atmosphereand the weather that happens in it.

MicroscaleMicroscale

There are FOUR scales of measurementin meteorology. They include a

SPACE and a TIME.

There are FOUR scales of measurementin meteorology. They include a

SPACE and a TIME.

MesoscaleMesoscale SynopticSynoptic GlobalGlobal

Comparing and Contrasting “Cyclones!”Comparing and Contrasting “Cyclones!”

“Cyclones” are areas of low pressure. Air pressure is a _____. Air is made up of

tiny _________ that move up, down, and side-to-side in the atmosphere.

“Cyclones” are areas of low pressure. Air pressure is a _____. Air is made up of

tiny _________ that move up, down, and side-to-side in the atmosphere.

MicroscaleMicroscale SynopticSynoptic

FORCEPARTICLES

Comparing and Contrasting “Cyclones!”Comparing and Contrasting “Cyclones!”

Low Pressure(rising air)

Low Pressure(rising air)

High Pressure(sinking air)

High Pressure(sinking air)

The Wind!(horizontal)The Wind!

(horizontal)

Cylones (lows) rotate counter-clockwise.Cylones (lows) rotate counter-clockwise.

A tornado’s wind can range from 65 to over 250miles per hour! The ________ ______ Scale

rates a tornado’s strength based on the damage it does.

A tornado’s wind can range from 65 to over 250miles per hour! The ________ ______ Scale

rates a tornado’s strength based on the damage it does.ENHANCED FUJITAENHANCED FUJITA

EF-0 (65-85 MPH)EF-0 (65-85 MPH) EF-1 (86-110 MPH)EF-1 (86-110 MPH) EF-2 (111-135 MPH)EF-2 (111-135 MPH)

EF-3 (136-165 MPH)EF-3 (136-165 MPH) EF-4 (166-200 MPH)EF-4 (166-200 MPH) EF-5 (Over 200 MPH)EF-5 (Over 200 MPH)

EF-1 TornadoLeighton, ALEF-1 TornadoLeighton, AL

EF-3Prattville, AL

EF-3Prattville, AL

FOUR (2 in 1974, 1 in 1977, 1 in 1998)FOUR (2 in 1974, 1 in 1977, 1 in 1998)How many EF-5 tornadoes has Alabama recorded? How many EF-5 tornadoes has Alabama recorded?

EF-5 DamageEF-5 Damage

19981998

19771977

LINK

LINKLINKApril 8

Tornadoes form from individual _____________.Tornadoes form from individual _____________.THUNDERSTORMSTHUNDERSTORMS

Radar Image

Cumulonimbus Cloud

View underneath a cumulonimbus into a “wall cloud.”Do you see a tornado here?

Tornadoes are ___________ events because they are small and do not last very long.

Tornadoes are ___________ events because they are small and do not last very long.

MICROSCALEMICROSCALE

Individual Thunderstorms and Tornadoes aretracked by a RADAR.

Individual Thunderstorms and Tornadoes aretracked by a RADAR.

How Radar WorksHow Radar Works

OODoppler Radar detects precipitation, and it can determine

if the rain, hail, or snow is moving TOWARD or AWAY FROMthe radar site!

Doppler Radar detects precipitation, and it can determineif the rain, hail, or snow is moving TOWARD or AWAY FROM

the radar site!

Hurricanes range from a few hundred to a fewthousand miles wide! They are _______ scale events.

Hurricanes range from a few hundred to a fewthousand miles wide! They are _______ scale events.SYNOPTICSYNOPTIC

USA TODAY Saffir-Simpson Scale

Satellite Animation of Hurricane Katrina (2005)

A hurricane’s wind ranges from 74 to over 200 miles perhour. The _____________ scale describes a hurricane’s

strength by wind AND ____________.

A hurricane’s wind ranges from 74 to over 200 miles perhour. The _____________ scale describes a hurricane’s

strength by wind AND ____________.SAFFIR-SIMPSONSAFFIR-SIMPSON

STORM SURGESTORM SURGE

Hurricanes are storm _______.Hurricanes are storm _______.SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

Radar ImageClose-Up Satellite Loopof Hurricane Igor (2010)

The center of a hurricane is called the ____. The weather is ____ in this area.

The center of a hurricane is called the ____. The weather is ____ in this area.

EYEEYE

CALMCALM

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?

TornadoTornado HurricaneHurricane

- One Thunderstorm - One Thunderstorm

- Small Size - Small Size

- Short Life - Short Life

- Usually stronger on LAND - Usually stronger on LAND

- Strength is in the wind - Strength is in the wind

- System of thunderstorms - System of thunderstorms

- Large Size - Large Size

- Long Life - Long Life

- Strong over WATER - Strong over WATER

- Strength is in the wind AND water (storm surge) - Strength is in the wind AND water (storm surge)

- Tornadoes are a part of a storm, they do not CREATE storms. - Tornadoes are a part of a storm, they do not CREATE storms. - Hurricanes are made of

storms and can CREATEtornadoes!

- Hurricanes are made ofstorms and can CREATEtornadoes!

What is This Thing?What is This Thing?

Waterspouts are tornadoeson water!

Waterspouts are tornadoeson water!

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL Picture

The ___ ______is a global scaleweather feature.

It is a river of ___that moves

storm systems.

The ___ ______is a global scaleweather feature.

It is a river of ___that moves

storm systems.

JET STREAM

AIR

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL Picture

WESTERLIES

EASTERLIESHurricanes form in the

_____________.Alabama is often

in this bandof wind in the Summer

and early Fall.

Hurricanes form in the_____________.

Alabama is oftenin this band

of wind in the Summerand early Fall.

Alabama is usually inthe ____________.

That is where mostsevere storms andtornadoes occur.

Alabama is usually inthe ____________.

That is where mostsevere storms andtornadoes occur.

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL Picture

Global circulation beginswith the ___! Unevenheat on Earth’s surfacecauses air to move. Movingair is called ______.

Global circulation beginswith the ___! Unevenheat on Earth’s surfacecauses air to move. Movingair is called ______.

SUNSUN

WINDWIND

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL PictureThe westerlies bring a clash of air masses where _______ form.The westerlies bring a clash of air masses where _______ form.FRONTSFRONTS

An unstable, warm air mass, changing winds, andthunderstorms are where tornadoes usually come

from.

An unstable, warm air mass, changing winds, andthunderstorms are where tornadoes usually come

from.

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL Picture

Hurricanes form in the __________ (Trade Winds).Hurricanes form in the __________ (Trade Winds).EASTERLIESEASTERLIES

This band of wind moves north toward Alabama in Summer and early Fall.

This band of wind moves north toward Alabama in Summer and early Fall.

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL Picture

The atmosphere’s mission is to bring _____________.The atmosphere’s mission is to bring _____________.EQUILIBRIUMEQUILIBRIUM

This is why we have STORMS!This is why we have STORMS!

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL PictureHurricanes transport _____ air from the tropics

toward the poles. Hurricanes transport _____ air from the tropics

toward the poles. WARMWARM

The GLOBAL PictureThe GLOBAL PictureThunderstorms transport warm air near the

surface high into the very cold atmosphere above.

Thunderstorms transport warm air near the surface

high into the very cold atmosphere above.

The surface is ________, and the air high above the surface is __________.

The surface is ________, and the air high above the surface is __________.

COOLEDCOOLED

WARMEDWARMED

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?