Explore

Table
of Contents

Unit One

Lesson 1
Introduction
& Ch 1


Lesson 2
Chapter 2
Part 1


Lesson 3
Chapter 2
Part 2


Quiz 1

Unit Two

Lesson 4
Chapter 3

Lesson 5
Chapter 4

Lesson 6
Chapter 5

Quiz 2

Unit Three

Lesson 7
Chapter 6

Lesson 8
Chapter 7

Lesson 9
Chapter 8

Quiz 3

Unit Four

Lesson 10
Chapter 9

Lesson 11
Chapter 10

Lesson 12
Chapter 11-12

Quiz 4

The Weather Book
by Michael Oard

Lesson 7

Chapter 6 (pp. 48–53)

Textbook

The Weather Book, by Michael Oard.

Text

Hurricanes (pp. 48—53)

Vocabulary Words

Intertropical
Convergence Zone
tropical depression
tropical storm
hurricane

Discussion Questions

  1. Locate the vocabulary words in the glossary. Write the definition for each.
  2. What is a monsoon?
  3. List and describe the three storm types that occur in the tropics.
  4. How are hurricane hunters similar to tornado chasers?
  5. How are scientists able to predict the months during which hurricanes will most likely form?
  6. Where is the eyewall located in a hurricane?
  7. How does barometric pressure affect wind speeds in a hurricane?
  8. What do the Japanese call a hurricane? The Australians?
  9. What causes nine out of ten deaths in a hurricane?
  10. What causes the sea level to rise as a hurricane passes overhead?
  11. What were the geographical and economic factors in Bangladesh that caused so many deaths during the hurricane of 1970?
  12. What killed most of the people who died after Hurricane Andrew passed through?
  13. What is the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center?
  14. How has this agency been able to save lives?
  15. How is Doppler radar useful in tracking hurricanes?

Answer Key

Hurricanes (pp. 48—53)

  1. See glossary.
  2. A monsoon is six months of rain in the tropics.
  3. Tropical depression (rainstorm with winds of 38 mph (60 kph) or less), tropical storm (heavy rain and winds between 39—74 mph (60—120 kph), hurricane (very heavy rain and winds of 75 mph (120 kph) or greater).
  4. They both chase after dangerous storms, hoping to gather information.
  5. They have learned that most hurricanes form after the ocean water warms up past 80°F, so hurricanes are more likely to form during months when water temperatures are above this.
  6. The eyewall directly surrounds the center, or eye, of the storm.
  7. The falling barometric pressure in the middle of the mass of the hurricane causes the winds to increase.
  8. Typhoons; (Tropical) Cyclones [NOTE: The text incorrectly indicated ‘willy-willies’, which are equivalent to the phenomena that Americans refer to as ‘dust devils’]
  9. The rising ocean water on land (storm surge) causes 90 percent of the deaths.
  10. Extremely low air pressure inside the hurricane.
  11. The country is very flat, and there was no way to warn the people of Bangladesh because they did not have modern communication systems.
  12. Most were killed by touching downed electrical wires.
  13. It is a governmental agency that issues watches and warnings to the people of advancing hurricanes. They use the latest technology to do so.
  14. It has been able to give 24-hour warnings of approaching storms. The people are able to leave their homes to go to safer areas until after the storm has passed.
  15. When a hurricane draws near, Doppler weather radar tracks the storm’s details.