Hurricanes As Heat Engines |
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Purpose: To examine authentic sea surface temperature data to explore how hurricanes extract heat energy from the ocean surface |
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Grade Level: 6 – 12 | |
Estimated Time for Completing Activity: 50 minutes | |
Learning Outcomes:
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Prerequisite
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Tools
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AP Environmental Science Topics
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Vocabulary: | |
Lesson Links:
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Background:
The passage of a hurricane causes a large transfer of heat between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. It also causes surface waters to diverge, bringing cooler water from below to the surface (upwelling). These effects are so large that they can be seen by a drop in sea surface temperature (SST) in satellite data observations along the path of the storm. The cooler water conditions may last for a week or longer after the storm. In this lesson, you will examine a historical Category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Rita, that crossed the Gulf of Mexico during September 18-24, 2005. First, you will use the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server to obtain sea surface temperature data maps of the Gulf of Mexico. Then, you will construct a time series of SST data (line plot) for a location within the path of the hurricane where a drop in SST is observed. |
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Procedure:
Using the lesson links above, read about the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and examine the track of Hurricane Rita. Part I: Use the Live Access Server to make daily data maps of SST for the Gulf of Mexico during and after the passage of Hurricane Rita. An example data map is provided above. 1. Click on the lesson link for the Live Access Server (Advanced Edition). Part II: Use the Live Access Server to make a line plot of your selected position in the path of Hurricane Rita. An example line plot is provided above. 1. Return to the Live Access Server data selection interface for MCSST. |
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Questions:
1. As a class, compare the daily SST maps of the Gulf of Mexico for the dates during and after Hurricane Rita. Do you see any evidence of lowered sea surface temperature in the data maps? Do you notice any delay between the hurricane passage and the effect on SST? 2. Examine your line plot of sea surface temperature for your selected location. Can you see the effect on the temperature in your line plot after the hurricane passed? How long did it take for the SST to return to the previous temperature? 3. What conclusions can you make about how hurricanes extract heat energy from the ocean? What other effects on SST may be occurring? Write a paragragh to explain. |
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Extensions:
1. Using the same procedure, examine the SST data during and after Hurricane Ophelia (September 7 – 18) and Hurricane Wilma (October 17-25). Do you see similar effects on sea surface temperature? 2. Examine other hurricanes in the Gulf, Atlantic or Pacific. Do you see any effects on SST? Why or why not? Please note: Data is not available for the week after Hurricane Katrina because the hurricane interrupted data processing at the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. |
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Lesson plan contributed by the MY NASA DATA Team |
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Click here for Teachers Notes |