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The Science of Hurricanes
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Step 1
Go to the Hurricanes! page and scroll down to the Movies of Hurricane Andrew section, where you will watch three short movies showing the movement of this devastating hurricane that hit the southern United States in 1992.
As you watch each movie, be prepared to answer these questions:
- In the first movie, what is the direction of the hurricane's motion?
- What land areas does Hurricane Andrew move over?
- What do you think causes hurricanes (or other things in life) to speed up or slow down?
- Do you think hurricanes speed up or slow down while over land?
- What do you think it was like in Florida and Louisiana on the day Hurricane Andrew struck these areas?
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Check with your teacher before continuing.
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Step 2
Go to the Anatomy of a Hurricane page to learn more about hurricanes.
Pay special attention to the picture. Look at the different arrows and parts of the hurricane. Read about the five Storm Elements next to the picture.
Be prepared to answer the following questions in a class discussion:
- Look at arrow #1. What is that? What is going on there?
- Look at arrow #2. What is that? What is going on there?
- Look at arrow #3. What is that? What is going on there?
- Look at arrow #4. What is that? What is going on there?
- Look at arrow #5. What is that? What is going on there?
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Check in with your teacher before continuing.
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Step 3
Now go back to the Hurricanes! page. Scroll down the page and read the section about Andrew's History and check out storm images at the Hurricane Andrew, 16 - 28 August, 1992 page.
As you view the images, be prepared to answer the following questions:
- How large was Hurricane Andrew compared to the state of Florida?
- What do you think the weather was like there on the day Hurricane Andrew hit?
- How would you describe the damage the hurricane created in the area?
- What do you think happened to the people living in those areas?
Step 4
From the Hurricanes! page, scroll down to read and discuss the section More about Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones with your teacher.
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As part of your review, be prepared to answer questions like these about hurricanes and how forces change the speed and direction of motion:
- What are hurricanes?
- Where do they come from? What are they made of?
- What do you think causes the motion of hurricanes?
- What causes hurricanes, storms, or things in general to change directions when moving?
- What happens to hurricanes when wind currents become stronger? Why?
- Why do hurricanes slow down and lose power when moving over land?
Optional Activity: Take out a piece of paper and write at the top of it, “Today, I learned these things about hurricanes and motion…” Then list as many facts as you can remember about hurricanes, including insights you learned about how hurricanes form, move, and affect the land areas they encounter.
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© Copyright AAAS 2010. All rights reserved.
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