Weather Extremes Chapter 3, Section 1 (pgs. 51-53) Earthquakes Earthquake: the violent movement (shaking, trembling) of the earth Plates grind or slide past each other at a fault Seismograph: special device, measures waves caused by earthquake Focus: in the earth where an earthquake begins Epicenter: point directly above the focus on the earths surface Characteristics: Squeezing, stretching, shearing motions = damage land & structures Ex: landslides, fires, collapsed buildings Richter Scale: determines the relative strength of an earthquake >2 = unnoticeable +4.5 = reported in news +7 = major earthquake 9.5 = largest ever measured (Chile) Tsunami Tsunami: giant wave in the ocean, caused by earthquake Speed: up to 720km/hour Wave size: 15-30 meters high Tsunamis can travel across wide stretches of ocean, do damage on distant shores Ex: 1960 Chile quake damaged Japan Ex 2: Indian Ocean 2004, 225,000 killed, 1.2 million IDPs (internally displaced persons) Atlantic Hurricanes, Pacific Typhoons, Australian Willy-Willies, Mexican Chubascos etc., etc., Hurricanes: storms that form over warm, tropical ocean waters Water winds: air flowing over ocean with + 26C pick up moisture & heat energy Water winds + low-pressure = tighten to form an eye Eye of the storm: 16-32km wide; clear, calm skies Outside the eye, winds = 320km/hour Size: up to 800km wide Characteristics: howling winds, very heavy rains, storm surge (large waves, up to 3 meters high) Tornadoes Tornado (or twister): powerful, funnel-shaped column of spiraling air Unlike Hurricanes, can form quickly; without warning Characteristics: Winds up to 480km/hour Diameter: 90 meters Distance: travel 1.6km, last only a few minutes Damage: can lift large objects, such as cars and homes Blizzards Blizzard: heavy snowstorm Winds: +56km/hour Reduced visibility (or sight) Characteristics: Traffic stops Endanger livestock Damage crops Can trap travelers Water Weather: too much vs. too little Droughts Drought: long period of time without rain (or very little rain) Characteristics: Crop failures = famine Lack of water 1930s: Dust Bowl (pg. 150-151) Dust storms damaged 240,000-square-km area of U.S. Great Plains Thousands of families forced to leave Floods Flood: an unusual rise in water levels Causes: 1) melting snow or 2) rainwater Effect: rivers overflow into surrounding area, called floodplain Damage low, flat places Ex: Bangladesh Assignment: A3 Poster Choose one natural disaster (confirm with teacher) Visuals > text Make your own visuals > pictures Research case study: country example Where? When? Why? How? Lessons learnt Prevention and precaution
October Break HW R.S.G Highlighted & Answered Chapter 3 Review Worksheet completed, including Critical Thinking Qs All Guided Reading WSs completed Skillbuilder Practice WS completed
EXTRA CREDIT : Map of Central America up to 5 Merit Cards (9 elements + coordinate notes)