WEATHER LESSONS

 

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Weather Lessons

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WEATHER DISASTERS!
Alice A. Whitenack

Weather is an everyday part of our lives. Here in Oregon, we talk about weather all the time; sometimes wishing the weather was better. Weather is also responsible for causing many natural disasters: tornadoes, wildfires, tsunamis, hurricanes, and floods. Oregon has also seen the results of the weather pattern called El Nino. Many of these weather-related disasters occur in our part of the world.

Other natural disasters include earthquakes, volcanoes, and close calls with comets. Most of us hope that these natural disasters won't happen around us, but we are still fascinated by them. The Internet contains many interesting stories and examples of weather disasters. Look at the list of topics and websites. Choose a disaster to investigate. Print and use the worksheet at the bottom of this page to guide your investigation.

Earthquakes:

Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest:
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/QUAKES/FactSheets/Portland/

Reducing Earthquake Losses throughout the
United States & Averting Surprises in the Pacific Northwest:
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/QUAKES/FactSheets/PacNW/

El Nino Rules! Hot Water Battle:
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/050el_nino/index.html

Enter the Comet's Orbit:
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/011comets/index.html

Floods:

Floods and Flash Floods:
http://www.fema.gov/mit/flood.htm

The Willamette Valley Flood of 1996:
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/1996/es202/flood.html

Volcanoes:

Love that Lava&endash;the Volcano Story: http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/031volcano/index.html

Tornadoes - Going Around in Circles:
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/013tornado/index.html

Tropical Twisters - Hurricanes: How They Work and What They Do
http://kids.mtpe.hq.nasa.gov/archive/hurricane/index.html

Tsunami - The Big Wave:
http://observe.ivv.nasa.gov/nasa/exhibits/tsunami/tsun_bay.html

Wildfires - Fire Alarm!
http://whyfiles.news.wisc.edu/018forest_fire/index.html

Disaster Preparedness: Now that you have learned about a natural disaster, find out how to be prepared for it. The Internet sites below contain information about supplies and strategies to help you cope with an emergency. Look at each one and decide which list is appropriate for your disaster.

American Red Cross - Disaster Safety Resources and Tips:
http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/index.html

Family Emergency Preparedness Plan:
http://www.ghc.org/health_info/self/emerg1.html

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency:
http://www.fema.gov/

LifeLink Disaster & Emergency Preparedness
Information, Services and Supplies: http://www.lifelink.com

(see below for Weather Disaster Worksheet)

Click here for this lesson's "Notes to Instructors"

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Design by: Western/Pacific Literacy Network -- Revised 11/17/99
"Rainbow - Oregon Coast" Photo Credit - http://www.neworegontrail.com

Weather Disaster Worksheet

Investigate a weather disaster! Many of the weather sites contain a road map or story map to help you get around. Some sites also contain a glossary that will tell you the meaning of new words. Look for it at the bottom of the Internet webpage.

Use these questions to guide your search for information:

1) Name of the natural disaster you are studying:_____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2) Definition:_________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3) In what part of the world is it most likely to occur?___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4) In simple words, what causes the disaster?_______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

 5) What kind of damage is likely to occur?__________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6) Some natural disasters have changed the earth in a big way. Are there any big changes that your natural disaster is responsible for? (Hint: see if there is a history section to your site)

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7) Can scientists predict when the natural disaster will strike? How?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

 8) What can you do to be prepared to handle this natural disaster? _______________________

___________________________________________________________________________

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