Microbursts, Chinook Winds, Microbursts, Chinook Winds, Cloud FormationCloud Formation

Microbursts, Chinook Winds, Microbursts, Chinook Winds, Cloud FormationCloud Formation

Vapor and Energy Vapor and Energy

in the Atmospherein the Atmosphere Vapor and Energy Vapor and Energy

in the Atmospherein the Atmosphere

ContextContextContextContext• Structure of the atmosphereStructure of the atmosphere• Issues: ozone, global warming, acid rainIssues: ozone, global warming, acid rain• Basic weather conceptsBasic weather concepts

• Temperature, humidity, dew point, cloud Temperature, humidity, dew point, cloud formation, fronts, pressure, highs and lowsformation, fronts, pressure, highs and lows

• StormsStorms• Thunderstorms, mid-latitude cyclones, Thunderstorms, mid-latitude cyclones,

hurricaneshurricanes• climateclimate

• Structure of the atmosphereStructure of the atmosphere• Issues: ozone, global warming, acid rainIssues: ozone, global warming, acid rain• Basic weather conceptsBasic weather concepts

• Temperature, humidity, dew point, cloud Temperature, humidity, dew point, cloud formation, fronts, pressure, highs and lowsformation, fronts, pressure, highs and lows

• StormsStorms• Thunderstorms, mid-latitude cyclones, Thunderstorms, mid-latitude cyclones,

hurricaneshurricanes• climateclimate

About 10 weeksAbout 10 weeks

PurposePurposePurposePurpose• Cloud formation demosCloud formation demos• Cloud formation activityCloud formation activity• Energy demoEnergy demo• Lab activity that will help your students better Lab activity that will help your students better

understand . . .understand . . .• MicroburstsMicrobursts• Chinook WindsChinook Winds• HurricanesHurricanes

• Cloud formation demosCloud formation demos• Cloud formation activityCloud formation activity• Energy demoEnergy demo• Lab activity that will help your students better Lab activity that will help your students better

understand . . .understand . . .• MicroburstsMicrobursts• Chinook WindsChinook Winds• HurricanesHurricanes

Cloud Demos (3)Cloud Demos (3)Cloud Demos (3)Cloud Demos (3)

• Watch a video of the “ultimate” Watch a video of the “ultimate” cloud democloud demo

• Click here

• Watch a video of the “ultimate” Watch a video of the “ultimate” cloud democloud demo

• Click here

NEXT: The student activityNEXT: The student activity

Do Do NOTNOT try this at home try this at homeDo Do NOTNOT try this at home try this at home

DEMO how alcohol vapors burn.

Student ActivityStudent ActivityWhat’s the recipe for a cloud?What’s the recipe for a cloud?

Student ActivityStudent ActivityWhat’s the recipe for a cloud?What’s the recipe for a cloud?• Click here to watch a video of the

student activity.• Click here to watch a video of the

student activity.

NEXT: Energy DemoNEXT: Energy Demo

If you understand If you understand this, you can this, you can

understand the understand the Chinook effect.Chinook effect.

If you understand If you understand this, you can this, you can

understand the understand the Chinook effect.Chinook effect.

Show psychrometerShow psychrometer

Water VaporWater Vapor

Liquid WaterLiquid Water

Frozen WaterFrozen Water (Ice)(Ice)

Water moleculesWater moleculesabsorbabsorb heat.heat.

Water moleculesWater moleculesreleaserelease heat.heat.

Surrounding airSurrounding airgets gets warmerwarmer.. Surrounding airSurrounding air

gets gets coldercolder..

Take a look at the handout.Take a look at the handout.

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

NEXT: Questions to be answered after the experiment.NEXT: Questions to be answered after the experiment.

- 4 - 4 CC

0 C0 C

SLUSH

ICE*

• Chinooks are common in rain shadowsChinooks are common in rain shadows• Chinooks are common in rain shadowsChinooks are common in rain shadows

There’s more to itThere’s more to itthan just compression.than just compression.

Examples of The Chinook EffectExamples of The Chinook EffectExamples of The Chinook EffectExamples of The Chinook Effect• In January of 1916, Browning had a In January of 1916, Browning had a

temperature swing of 100 Ftemperature swing of 100 F• At Havre a temperature increase of 43 F in At Havre a temperature increase of 43 F in

15 minutes has been recorded.15 minutes has been recorded.• At Loma on January 15, 1972 temp. At Loma on January 15, 1972 temp.

increased from -56 F to 49 Fincreased from -56 F to 49 F

• In January of 1916, Browning had a In January of 1916, Browning had a temperature swing of 100 Ftemperature swing of 100 F

• At Havre a temperature increase of 43 F in At Havre a temperature increase of 43 F in 15 minutes has been recorded.15 minutes has been recorded.

• At Loma on January 15, 1972 temp. At Loma on January 15, 1972 temp. increased from -56 F to 49 Fincreased from -56 F to 49 F

Look at question #4 on the handout.Look at question #4 on the handout.

What is the area inside yellow line called?What is the area inside yellow line called?Why are Chinooks most common in this area?Why are Chinooks most common in this area?

What is the area inside yellow line called?What is the area inside yellow line called?Why are Chinooks most common in this area?Why are Chinooks most common in this area?

NEXT

Not just a MontanaNot just a Montanaphenomenon phenomenon

Not just a MontanaNot just a Montanaphenomenon phenomenon

• Rapid City 1943Rapid City 1943• 7:30 am temp was -4 F7:30 am temp was -4 F• In 2 minutes it rose 49 degreesIn 2 minutes it rose 49 degrees• 9:00 am temp was 54 F9:00 am temp was 54 F• By 9:30 am temp was -4 F againBy 9:30 am temp was -4 F again

• Rapid City 1943Rapid City 1943• 7:30 am temp was -4 F7:30 am temp was -4 F• In 2 minutes it rose 49 degreesIn 2 minutes it rose 49 degrees• 9:00 am temp was 54 F9:00 am temp was 54 F• By 9:30 am temp was -4 F againBy 9:30 am temp was -4 F again

Chinook does not mean “Snow Eater”. . . But they do “eat” snow

Next: MicroburstsNext: MicroburstsQuestion #6Question #6

Next: MicroburstsNext: MicroburstsQuestion #6Question #6

Small intense downburstSmall intense downburst

Downbursts: Discovered by Ted FujitaDownbursts: Discovered by Ted FujitaDownbursts: Discovered by Ted FujitaDownbursts: Discovered by Ted Fujita

• 1920-19981920-1998• Saw destruction at Saw destruction at

Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki• Moved to USA in 1953Moved to USA in 1953• Tornado outbreak of Tornado outbreak of

April 1974April 1974• Eastern Airlines flight Eastern Airlines flight

#66 in 1975#66 in 1975

• 1920-19981920-1998• Saw destruction at Saw destruction at

Hiroshima and NagasakiHiroshima and Nagasaki• Moved to USA in 1953Moved to USA in 1953• Tornado outbreak of Tornado outbreak of

April 1974April 1974• Eastern Airlines flight Eastern Airlines flight

#66 in 1975#66 in 1975

• Dr. Greg ForbesDr. Greg Forbes• Fujita’s most famous Fujita’s most famous

studentstudent

• Dr. Greg ForbesDr. Greg Forbes• Fujita’s most famous Fujita’s most famous

studentstudent

• 148 twisters148 twisters• 16 hours16 hours• 330 deaths330 deaths• Six F-5sSix F-5s• Several ???Several ???

• 148 twisters148 twisters• 16 hours16 hours• 330 deaths330 deaths• Six F-5sSix F-5s• Several ???Several ???

““Tornado Outbreak” Tornado Outbreak” April 3-4, 1974April 3-4, 1974

Downed trees provide evidence.Downed trees provide evidence.Downed trees provide evidence.Downed trees provide evidence.

Photo courtesy of T. FujitaShows damage from 1977 downburst in Northern Wisconsin

Photo courtesy of T. FujitaSwath was 166 miles long, 17 miles wide

DownburstsDownburstsWatch a short video-demonstration.

Question #7Question #7

#8 Psychrometer#8 Psychrometer#8 Psychrometer#8 Psychrometer

#9. Warm Water is the “fuel”#9. Warm Water is the “fuel”#9. Warm Water is the “fuel”#9. Warm Water is the “fuel”

• Vapor from warm water enters stormVapor from warm water enters storm• Humid air rises -> cools by expansionHumid air rises -> cools by expansion• Vapor changes to liquid cloud dropletVapor changes to liquid cloud droplet• Heat energy releasedHeat energy released• Makes air lighter -> helps it riseMakes air lighter -> helps it rise• Pressure becomes lowerPressure becomes lower• Wind speed toward storm center Wind speed toward storm center

increasesincreases

• Vapor from warm water enters stormVapor from warm water enters storm• Humid air rises -> cools by expansionHumid air rises -> cools by expansion• Vapor changes to liquid cloud dropletVapor changes to liquid cloud droplet• Heat energy releasedHeat energy released• Makes air lighter -> helps it riseMakes air lighter -> helps it rise• Pressure becomes lowerPressure becomes lower• Wind speed toward storm center Wind speed toward storm center

increasesincreases

Water VaporWater Vapor

Liquid WaterLiquid Water

Frozen WaterFrozen Water (Ice)(Ice)

Water moleculesWater moleculesabsorbabsorb heat.heat.

Water moleculesWater moleculesreleaserelease heat.heat.

Surrounding airSurrounding airgets gets warmerwarmer.. Surrounding airSurrounding air

gets gets coldercolder..

Questions 10-15Questions 10-15

ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources• This presentation is available on This presentation is available on

www.TeacherTube.com• rbenson@helena.k12.mt.usrbenson@helena.k12.mt.us• Rodney’s Homepage for Earth Science Te

achers• www.formontana.net/home.htmlwww.formontana.net/home.html

• This presentation is available on This presentation is available on www.TeacherTube.com

• rbenson@helena.k12.mt.usrbenson@helena.k12.mt.us• Rodney’s Homepage for Earth Science Te

achers• www.formontana.net/home.htmlwww.formontana.net/home.html

If time allows . . . Chinook ArchIf time allows . . . Chinook Arch