Climate change scientists predict in an increase in the strength of seasonal hurricanes. Right now, Michael is approaching Florida. Here comes a teachable moment. If you're required to "cover" earth science and particularly meteorology, allow me to point you to a resource I know quite well. I wrote it.
It won a STEM award, only in its second year, which is honors the integration of science, technology, engineering and math into a single work. (I've been writing such books for a long time but it's still nice to be noticed.)
Kids are fascinated with hurricanes because of their destructive power. Right now, we have state-of-the-art ability to predict the approximate path of a hurricane within several days of warning. This gives residents, who may be in the hurricane's path, time to board up windows, clear the patios of potentially flying objects, and evacuate if flooding from a storm surge is possible.
We are nowhere close to steering a hurricane harmlessly into the ocean or diminishing its power.
Nevertheless, scientists and engineers have been thinking and imagining how it could be done. What do they need to know?
First, they have to understand the settled science about the the components of hurricanes: namely air, water, and energy. How do these normally benign essentials for life get organized into such a violent storm? Next, they have to understand what hurricanes do for the planet. Yes, they serve an important function, mainly to move the heat from the ocean to the stratosphere. In. A. Hurry. Finally, they must understand the possibilities for weather modification and its potential for unforeseen catastrophe. It's a fascinating subject for students to ponder. It's a problem for which there are currently no right answers.
I think it's good for students to live with questions.
You can find the new paperback here. And if you want to follow Michael's progress and see what else is cooking in the Atlantic, go to the heart of the matter, the National Hurricane Center.
Here are links to Nonfiction Minutes on hurricanes and climate change:
Flying into the Eye of a Storm
Earth's Emergency Heat Valve: The Hurricane
Climate Change: The Facts and the Consequences
Hopping Ahead of Climate Change
It won a STEM award, only in its second year, which is honors the integration of science, technology, engineering and math into a single work. (I've been writing such books for a long time but it's still nice to be noticed.)
Kids are fascinated with hurricanes because of their destructive power. Right now, we have state-of-the-art ability to predict the approximate path of a hurricane within several days of warning. This gives residents, who may be in the hurricane's path, time to board up windows, clear the patios of potentially flying objects, and evacuate if flooding from a storm surge is possible.
We are nowhere close to steering a hurricane harmlessly into the ocean or diminishing its power.
Nevertheless, scientists and engineers have been thinking and imagining how it could be done. What do they need to know?
First, they have to understand the settled science about the the components of hurricanes: namely air, water, and energy. How do these normally benign essentials for life get organized into such a violent storm? Next, they have to understand what hurricanes do for the planet. Yes, they serve an important function, mainly to move the heat from the ocean to the stratosphere. In. A. Hurry. Finally, they must understand the possibilities for weather modification and its potential for unforeseen catastrophe. It's a fascinating subject for students to ponder. It's a problem for which there are currently no right answers.
I think it's good for students to live with questions.
You can find the new paperback here. And if you want to follow Michael's progress and see what else is cooking in the Atlantic, go to the heart of the matter, the National Hurricane Center.
Here are links to Nonfiction Minutes on hurricanes and climate change:
Flying into the Eye of a Storm
Earth's Emergency Heat Valve: The Hurricane
Climate Change: The Facts and the Consequences
Hopping Ahead of Climate Change
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