Lesson 2 - Introducing Lesson 2 - Introducing StormsStorms

Inquiry 2.1 – Modeling a Vortex

•View images of clouds taken from space and identify patterns in the clouds.

•Model the movement of air in a tornado or hurricane.

•Create a working definition for the word “vortex.”

•Read to learn more about thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

Lesson 2 - Introducing Lesson 2 - Introducing StormsStorms

•Where did you and your group think most tornadoes and hurricanes occur?

•Examine Figures 2.1 and 2.2

A. Think about the reading selection “Views From Space” in Lesson 1. How were the images in Figures 2.1 and 2.2 taken?

B. How are the two images alike?

C. How are they different?

D. What patterns do you notice in the shapes of the clouds? Why do you think these patterns form?

Lesson 2 - Introducing Lesson 2 - Introducing StormsStorms

How does air within a hurricane or tornado

move?

Inquiry 2.1Inquiry 2.1 Modeling a VortexModeling a Vortex

A.Where are most of the glitter and beads?

B.Where is the movement of the glitter and beads the fastest? Where is it the slowest?

C.How is the vortex model like a real tornado? How is it like a hurricane?

Inquiry 2.1 :Inquiry 2.1 :Reflecting On What You’ve DoneReflecting On What You’ve Done

D. What happened when you first held the model so that the water was in the top bottle? Why do you think this happened? Draw a picture of your results.

E. How did you get the water to flow quickly into the bottom bottle?

F. How did the motion of the glitter and beads change as they moved closer to the center of the spiral?

Inquiry 2.1 :Inquiry 2.1 :Reflecting On What You’ve DoneReflecting On What You’ve Done

G. Think about your model as a tornado. What might the glitter and beads represent? What does their movement tell you about the movement of air within a rotating storm?

H. Think about your model as a hurricane. What do you think causes the clouds of a hurricane to spiral?

Definition of VortexDefinition of Vortex

Look at figures 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, and think Look at figures 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5, and think about the vortex model that we worked about the vortex model that we worked with in class.with in class.

Come up with a working definition for the Come up with a working definition for the word “vortex”word “vortex”

VortexVortex

Tornado Watch or Warning?Tornado Watch or Warning? These terms are used to alert the public that a These terms are used to alert the public that a

threatening weather system is approaching.threatening weather system is approaching. Tornado watchTornado watch – means that tornadoes are – means that tornadoes are

possible. Thunderstorms with high winds possible. Thunderstorms with high winds and heavy rain that may produce a tornado and heavy rain that may produce a tornado are in the areaare in the area

Tornado warningTornado warning – means that a tornado has – means that a tornado has actually been spotted or detected by radaractually been spotted or detected by radar

NOAANOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric – National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationAdministration

NWR NWR – NOAA Weather Radio– NOAA Weather Radio NWS NWS – National Weather Service (branch of the – National Weather Service (branch of the

NOAA)NOAA)

VortexVortex

Is the movement of a liquid or gas in a Is the movement of a liquid or gas in a spiral around a central axisspiral around a central axis ( (line around line around which object rotates: which object rotates: an imaginary straight line an imaginary straight line around which an object such as Earth rotatesaround which an object such as Earth rotates).).