Weather & Climate Module 6 Reading PDF

(WC) Weather and Climate Module Overview **Weather and Climate**  The Sicily Isles in Great Britain are located as far north as Newfoundland in Canada. When compared, the Sicily Isles have warm weather almo...

(WC) Weather and Climate Module Overview **Weather and Climate**  The Sicily Isles in Great Britain are located as far north as Newfoundland in Canada. When compared, the Sicily Isles have warm weather almost all year long, and Newfoundland has long winters of frost and snow. How can two places at similar latitudes have such different climates? This difference in climate happens because heat is transported by the Gulf Stream. Climate is sometimes referred to as \"average\" weather for a given area. The National Weather Service uses values such as temperature highs and lows and precipitation measures for the past thirty years to compile \"average\" weather for any given area. Weather is the current atmospheric conditions, including temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity at any given place. Weather is what is happening right now or likely to happen tomorrow or in the very near future. Essential Questions: - - - - - Key Terms:  1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. (WC) Earth\'s Atmosphere Lesson Earth\'s Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Diagram In order to truly understand weather and climate you must have an understanding of the Earth\'s atmosphere. The earth\'s atmosphere is composed of gases of just the right types and in just the right amounts to warm the earth to temperatures suitable for life. The effect of the atmosphere to trap heat is the true \"greenhouse effect\". The Earth\'s atmosphere is divided into 5 layers - The troposphere - The stratosphere - The mesosphere - The thermosphere - The exosphere Troposphere  - Tropo - means \"turning\" or \"changing\"  - Extends from the surface of the Earth to 10 km above surface.  - Contains approximately 90% of all the Earth\'s gases (air).  - Layer where most weather occurs.  Stratosphere  - Strato - means \"layer\" or \"spread out\"  - Extends from10 km above surface to 50 km above surface.  - Contains the ozone layer.  Mesosphere  - Meso - means \"middle\"  - Extends from 50 km above surface to 80 km above surface.  - Coldest layer of the atmosphere.  - Meteors are seen as shooting stars.  Thermosphere  - Thermo - means \"heat\"  - Extends from 80 km above surface to 500 km above surface.  - Is very hot (can be over 1000º C) but it does not feel hot.  FYI: the thermosphere does not feel hot you must first understand the difference between temperature and heat.  - Temperature is an average measure of how much kinetic energy moving particles have. Particles in the troposphere have a lot of energy and are moving very fast so their temperature is high.  - Heat is felt when that energy (the thermal energy) is transferred between colliding objects that are at different temperatures.  So...even though the particles have a lot of energy, the layer is almost a vacuum so there is not enough contact with the few atoms of gas to transfer much heat to your skin so you wouldn\'t feel warm.  Exosphere  - Exo - means \"outer\"  - Extends from over 500 km above surface to where it merges with outer space. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surround the earth. The Earth\'s Atmosphere is composed of: - 78% nitrogen - 21% oxygen - 1% water vapor, argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and other gases  As stated in the presentation above, Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, as well as trace amounts of other gases. Our planet\'s atmosphere, extends hundreds of kilometers from Earth and protects Earth\'s surface from damaging solar radiation. Atmosphere and Altitude A relationship between, altitude, pressure, density, chemical composition and temperature exists. **Air Pressure** A close-up of a gauge Description automatically generatedAir is all around us and that air exerts pressure in all directions.  At sea level, the air pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch. As your altitude increases (for example, if you climb a mountain), the air pressure decreases. At an altitude of 10,000 feet, the air pressure is 10 pound per square inch (and there is less oxygen to breathe).  Air pressure is measured with a barometer. An aneroid barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. A mercury barometer is a device that uses the various physical properties of mercury contained in a tube to measure barometric pressure. On a weather map an L marks an area of low pressure while an H marks an area of high pressure. **Air Density** Air density decreases with altitude. **Air Temperature** Temperatures in the atmosphere change with altitude. Density and pressure correlate with a decrease as altitude increases. Air temperature is usually measured with a thermometer. Temperature is different. The decreased air pressure causes the air to expand and become cooler. When temperature is graphed with altitude the graph will display a more zigzag like line. Temperature in the Atmosphere Graph (WC) Convection, Conduction, and Radiation Lesson **Convection, Conduction, and Radiation** The sun serves as Earth\'s source of energy. Energy is transferred between the earth\'s surface and the atmosphere in one of three ways. When energy is transferred from a hotter object to a cooler one it is referred to as heat. - convection - conduction - radiation **Convection**  Convection is the transfer of thermal energy through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases). In the atmosphere, convection includes rising and sinking of air masses and smaller air parcels. These vertical motions effectively distribute heat and moisture throughout the atmospheric column and contribute to cloud and storm development (where rising motion occurs) and dissipation (where sinking motion occurs). To understand the convection cells that distribute heat over the whole earth, let\'s consider a simplified, smooth earth with no land/sea interactions and a slow rotation. Under these conditions, the equator is warmed by the sun more than the poles. The warm, light air at the equator rises and spreads northward and southward, and the cool dense air at the poles sinks and spreads toward the equator. As a result, two convection cells are formed.  The Earth\'s main energy source is the sun. The sun causes convection within the atmosphere, which in turn affects weather and climate.   **Conduction** Conduction is the transfer of thermal energy that results from the collision of particles.A drawing of a mug with a spoon in it Description automatically generated Let\'s imagine you have just baked a pan of chocolate chip cookies. Before pulling the cookies out of the oven you would want to have something to put between your hand and the hot cookie sheet. Using potholders or oven mitts will save your fingers and hand from being burned. Some solids, such as metals, are good conductors of heat while others, such as wood, are poor conductors. The closer together molecules are in a substance, the more effectively the can conduct heat. Molecules that are heated have more energy. Molecules that are cold move slower and have less energy. The faster moving molecules are transferred into slower moving molecules. Air is a poor conductor, most energy transfer by conduction occurs right at the earth\'s surface. At night, the ground cools and the cold ground conducts heat away from the adjacent air. During the day, solar radiation heats the ground, which heats the air next to it by conduction. We have learned how the Earth\'s rotation results in the **coriolis effect** this rotation makes winds in the Northern Hemisphere curve to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve to the left. **Radiation** Radiation is the direct transfer of energy from the sun by electromagnetic waves. The shorter the wavelength the higher the energy associated with it. Radiation can transmit heat through a vacuum. This is important because there is no air in space from which the sun\'s energy must travel through to energize our planet. Conduction, convection, radiation diagram - description below (WC) Understanding Weather and Climate Lesson **Understanding Weather and Climate** People often talk about climate and weather as the same thing. However, they are quite different and these differences have important implications for how we predict changes in weather and climate. What is the difference between weather and climate? +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Climate VS. Weather | | | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | | **Climate** | **Weather** | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Definition** | Describes the average | Describes the | | | conditions expected | atmospheric | | | at a specific place | conditions at a | | | at a given time. A | specific place at a | | | region\'s climate is | specific point in | | | generated by the | time. Weather | | | climate system, which | generally refers to | | | has five components: | day-to-day | | | atmosphere, | temperature and | | | hydrosphere, | precipitation | | | cryosphere, land | activity. | | | surface, and | | | | biosphere. | | | | | | | |   | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Components** | Climate may include | Weather includes | | | precipitation, | sunshine, rain, cloud | | | temperature, | cover, winds, hail, | | | humidity, sunshine, | snow, sleet, freezing | | | wind velocity, | rain, flooding, | | | phenomena such as | blizzards, ice | | | fog, frost, and hail | storms, | | | storms over a long | thunderstorms, steady | | | period of time. | rains from a cold | | | | front or warm front, | | |   | excessive heat, heat | | | | waves and more. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Forecast** | By aggregates of | By collecting | | | weather statistics | meteorological data, | | | over periods of 30 | like air temperature, | | | years. | pressure, humidity, | | | | solar radiation, wind | | |   | speeds and direction | | | | etc. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Determining | Aggregating weather | Real-time | | factors** | statistics over | measurements of | | | periods of 30 years | atmospheric pressure, | | | (\"climate | temperature, wind | | | normals\"). | speed and direction, | | | | humidity, | | |   | precipitation, cloud | | | | cover, and other | | | | variables. | | | | | | | |   | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Study** |   |   | | | | | | | Climatology | Meteorology | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Time period** | Measured over a long | Measured for short | | | period. | term. | | | | | | |   | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ ** ** Weather is the air temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, moisture content, and air pressure at any particular time in any particular place. Weather reflects the prevailing conditions of the air masses overlying the land and seas over the entire globe. A close up of a sign Description automatically generated Climate is the overall picture of weather during periods of seasons or years. Historical records (including geological and recorded history) show us how the climate of the Earth has changed throughout its history. - - \"You pick your vacation destination based on the climate but pack your suitcase based on the weather.\"  The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather changes on a daily basis. It gives the current atmospheric conditions of a place over a short-term (minutes to weeks). While on the other hand, climate describes the typical weather (state) a location will have over a long period of time (more of a permanent state). (WC) Factors Affecting Climate Lesson **Factors Affecting Climate** There are many different factors that affect climate around the world. It is the varying influence of these factors that lead to different parts of the Earth experiencing differing climates. The most important natural factors are: - distance from the sea - ocean currents - direction of prevailing winds - shape of the land (known as \'relief\' or \'topography\') - distance from the equator - *the El Niño phenomenon*. **Distance from the Sea** The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.  The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures.  In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the land mass. **Ocean Currents** Oceans, holding a large amount of heat have a major role in the creation of a climate. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth\'s surface. The ocean plays a major role in regulating the weather and climate of the planet. The circulation of the ocean\'s water affects regional weather. Ocean water has high heat capacity that results in slow temperature changes of the ocean in comparison to the low heat capacity of air that results in rapid changes in air temperatures. The circulation of the ocean and the ocean\'s high heat capacity explain why the air temperatures in coastal locations are often cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than inland locations.  **Direction of Prevailing Winds** Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to inland areas.  Winds that blow to Britain from warm inland areas such as Africa will be warm and dry.  Winds that blow to Britain from inland areas such as central Europe will be cold and dry in winter. Britain\'s prevailing (i.e. most frequently experienced) winds come from a south westerly direction over the Atlantic.  These winds are cool in the summer, mild in the winter and tend to bring wet weather. **The Shape of the Land** Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall. The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be.  This happens because as altitude increases, air becomes thinner and is less able to absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of mountains all year round. **Distance from the Equator** The distance from the equator affects the climate of a place. At the poles, energy from the sun reaches the Earth\'s surface at lower angles and passes through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the equator. This means the climate is cooler further from the Equator. The poles also experience the greatest difference between summer and winter day lengths: in the summer there is a period when the sun does not set at the poles; conversely the poles also experience a period of total darkness during winter. In contrast, daylength varies little at the equator. ***El Niño*** *El Niño* which affects wind and rainfall patterns, has been blamed for droughts and floods in countries around the Pacific Rim.  *El Niño* refers to the irregular warming of surface water in the Pacific.  The warmer water pumps energy and moisture into the atmosphere, altering global wind and rainfall patterns. The phenomenon has caused tornadoes in Florida, smog in Indonesia, and forest fires in Brazil. (WC) Climate Zones Lesson **Climate Zone** Climate Zone: are divisions of the Earth\'s climates into general climate zones according to average temperatures and average rainfall. The three major climate zones on the Earth are the polar, temperate, and tropical zones. Temperatures in these three climate zones are determined mainly by the location, or latitude, of the zone. - *polar*- has the coldest with temperatures almost always below freezing.  - *temperate*- contains most of the Earth\'s land masses with more moderate temperatures and rainfall year-round.  - *tropical zones*- has the warmest average temperatures and gets the most rain. Climate Zone Map (WC) Winds Lesson **Winds** Air is a fluid that can move from place to place easily. We have already studied air pressure. Air pressure differences are the forces that will create winds. Areas of high pressure will move toward areas of low pressure. **Wind** is defined as the horizontal movement of air from high pressure areas to lower pressure areas. **All winds are caused by differences in air pressure.** What causes differences in air pressure? Unequal heating of the atmosphere results in most of the differences in air pressure. Convection currents form by heating the Earth\'s surface by the sun\'s rays. The Earth\'s surface heats up causing the air over it to heat and begin to expand. As the air heats it becomes less dense and the heated air loses pressure. In the meantime if there is cooler air, that is more dense and has greater air pressure, nearby it will begin to flow under the heated air, less dense air. When the cooler air flows under the heated air, the heated air will push upward forcing the warm air to rise. **Measuring Wind** Winds are distinguished by their speed and their direction. Wind vanes can be used to determine wind direction. As the wind blows a wind vane will turn so that one end will point into the wind. Winds are named by the direction from which they are coming. For example if a north wind blows from the north to the south. Likewise, a south wind would blow from the south towards the north. Think about it? If a wind begins in the north and curves toward the east this wind would be called a answer. To measure wind speed scientist use an anemometer. **Local Winds** Local winds blow over short distances. Local winds are caused by unequal heating of Earth\'s surface within a small area. Local winds form only when no winds are blowing from farther away. **Global Winds** Global winds blow over long distances. Global winds and local winds are caused by unequal heating of Earth\'s surface. Temperature at the equator is different from the temperature at the poles because of the amount of direct sunlight the areas receive. These temperature differences result in large convection currents in the atmosphere. The warm air will rise at the equator, and the cold, dense air will sink at the poles. Remember, warm air is less dense and has less air pressure; therefore, the air at the equator is less dense and has less pressure than the air at the poles. This causes winds from the poles to blow toward the equator, and to push the air from the equator toward the poles. The movement of air between the equator and the poles produces global winds. **Coriolis Effect** If you were holding a glass of water in your hand, and you wanted to stir the water, you could simply swirl the glass around in a circular motion to get the water in that glass to move. Our Earth rotates and the affect of that rotation is similar to the affect of swirling a glass. Winds curve in the direction of the Earth\'s spin. In the Northern Hemisphere, all global winds gradually turn toward the right. In the Southern Hemisphere, winds curve toward the left. (WC) Experiencing Weather Lesson **Experiencing Weather** Weather affects how you dress and how you plan your day, so it is important to get accurate weather forecasts. A ***weather forecast*** is a prediction of weather conditions over the next 3 to 5 days.\ A ***meteorologist*** is a person who observes and collects data on atmospheric conditions to make weather predictions. Clouds Clouds can come in all sizes and shapes, and can form near the ground or high in the atmosphere. Clouds are groups of tiny water droplets or ice crystals in the sky and are formed by different processes. They can make different kinds of precipitation depending on the atmosphere\'s temperature. Meterologists classify clouds into three main types: cumulus, stratus, and cirrus. Cloud types are classified by height and appearance. The shape depends on the way the air moves around the cloud. If air moves horizontally, clouds form spread-out layers. Clouds grow upward if air is moving vertically near the cloud. At any given time, clouds cover about 50% of the Earth. We would not have rain, thunderstorms, rainbows, or snow without clouds. Clouds make up some of the atmospheric optics we can see in the sky. The atmosphere would be boring if the sky was always clear! Clouds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals, through condensation. Cloud Types Clouds are classified into a system that uses Latin words to describe the appearance of clouds as seen by an observer on the ground. The table below summarizes the four principal components of this classification system (Ahrens, 1994).  Cloud Prefixes and Suffixes ----------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------- **Latin Root** **Translation** **Example** cumulus heap fair weather cumulus stratus layer altostratus cirrus curl of hair cirrus nimbus rain cumulonimbus Classifications:  **High-Level Clouds**\ Cloud types include: cirrus and cirrostratus. **Mid-Level Clouds**\ Cloud types include: altocumulus, altostratus. **Low-Level Clouds**\ Cloud types include: nimbostratus and stratocumulus. **Clouds with Vertical Development**\ Cloud types include: fair weather cumulus and cumulonimbus. **Other Cloud Types**\ Cloud types include: contrails, billow clouds, mammatus, orographic and pileus clouds. (WC) Air Masses and Fronts Lesson **Air Masses and Fronts Lesson** An **air mass** is a huge body of air that has similar temperature, pressure, and humidity throughout. A **front** is the border between two air masses that collide and humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air. Cold Front, Warm Front, Occluded Front, Stationary Front **Humidity** is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. **Relative humidity** is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor the air could potentially hold. Air masses form when air stays over a region long enough to take on the temperature and humidity characteristics of that region. It takes a week or more for an air mass to form. The density of air masses varies with the temperature and humidity of the air. Warm air masses are less dense than cold air masses, and humid air masses are less dense than dry air masses. When air masses with different densities meet, the two masses do not mix. As with oil and water, a distinct boundary forms between the air masses. In the experiment, the oil represented a warm air mass and the colored water a cold air mass. As with the oil and water, warm, less dense air moves over cold, denser air. The four principal air mass classifications that influence the continental United States according to their source region are: - Polar latitudes - Located poleward of 60° north and south. - Continental - Located over large land masses between 25°N/S and 60°N/S. - Maritime - Located over the oceans between 25°N/S and 60°N/S - Tropical latitudes - Located within about 25° of the equator. When we classify air masses we use two characteristics; temperature and humidity. Fronts There are two types of fronts: warm and cold. When air masses clash a front will form. **Cold fronts** happen when a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass up.  Cold fronts typically move faster than warm fronts, so in time they \"catch up\" to warm fronts.  As the two fronts merge, an occluded front forms. In the occluded front, the cold air undercuts the cooler air mass associated with the warm front, further lifting the already rising warm air. Bjerknes    **Warm fronts** happen when a warm air mass catches up with a cold air mass and the warm air mass stretches up over the cold air mass. Stratus clouds are formed. Warm fronts can produce steady, light rain or snow can occur. Vilhelm Bjerknes (1862-1951), a Norwegian physicist and meteorologist, coined the term front to describe the boundary between warm and cold air masses. The leading edge of a warm air mass advancing into a region occupied by a cold air mass is called a warm front. A cold front occurs when a cold air mass advances into a region occupied by a warm air mass. If the boundary between the cold and warm air masses doesn\'t move, it is called a stationary front. The boundary where a cold air mass meets a cool air mass under a warm air mass is called an occluded front. At a front, the weather is usually unsettled and stormy, and precipitation is common. Fronts are the boundaries between two air masses. Fronts are classified as to which type of air mass (cold or warm) is replacing the other. For example, a cold front demarcates the leading edge of a cold air mass displacing a warmer air mass. A warm front is the leading edge of a warmer air mass replacing a colder air mass. If the front is essentially not moving (i.e. the air masses are not moving) it is called a stationary front. Front Symbols (WC) Precipitation Lesson **Precipitation** Through the water cycle, water is evaporated into the air and becomes water vapor. This water will eventually find its way back to the Earth\'s surface as precipitation. Precipitation includes any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth\'s surface. Types of Precipitation The type of precipitation a region gets depends largely on the temperature and air density in that region. Common types of precipitation include: - rain - sleet - freezing rain - hail - snow Rain Rain is the most common type of precipitation. For a water droplet to be considered rain it must measure at least 0.5 millimeters in diameter. Droplets of water smaller than 0.5 millimeters are referred to as mist or drizzle. Nimbostratus clouds are more likely to produce mist or drizzle. Sleet The freezing point of water is 0°C. When rain falls through a freezing temperature layer the droplets of water will form ice particles in the raindrop. Sleet are ice particles that are smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter.  Freezing Rain Sometimes rain will fall through cold air but will freeze once it hits a very cold surface. This phenomenon is known as freezing rain since it is rain that freezes. Freezing rain can be extremely dangerous because surfaces will build up with layers of ice. Ice is dense and heavy making tree limbs and power lines to weigh down and sometimes to break. Freezing rain and sleet can both make driving treacherous because roads, streets, and even sidewalks become slick and slippery. A blue ice cube with water drops falling Description automatically generated Hail  When precipitation occurs as round pellets of ice, measuring larger than 5 millimeters in diameter they are called hailstones. Cululonimbus clouds are the only types of clouds that produce hailstones during thunderstorms. Hail forms in storm clouds. Tiny water droplets are circled through the clouds through updrafts and downdrafts. Each cycle adds a new layer of ice to the droplet. Here, hail-producing storm clouds cross through South Dakota. In a record-setting July 2010 South Dakota hail storm, hail as large as 20 centimeters (8 inches) in diameter smashed through car windshields and left craters in the ground. Snow Water vapor in a cloud can be converted into ice crystals or better known as snowflakes. Snowflakes have an endless number of different shapes and patterns; however, all snowflakes will have six sides or branches.  Measuring Precipitation A rain gauge is used to measure rainfall. A rain gauge is a can or tube with one open side that will collect rainfall. Snow is measured with a ruler or by measuring collected and melted snow. (WC) Weather Patterns Lesson **Weather Patterns ** Predicting weather is interesting to most people because our lives are so heavily influenced by the weather. **Activating Activity** For this activity you will make a tornado in a jar. 1. Fill a large jar three-quarters full with water. 2. Add a drop of liquid dish detergent to the water in the jar. 3. Drop in a marble. (If you don\'t have a marble you could use a penny) 4. Put the lid on the jar tightly. 5. Swirl the jar in a circular motion until the water in the jar begins to spin. Storms A storm is identified as any violent disturbance in Earth\'s atmosphere. Sudden changes in air pressure, which would cause rapid air movement could cause a storm. **Compare Weather Events Chart** In your science notebook create a table like the one seen here. Leave plenty of space on your chart in between lines to add information to your chart as you learn and discover more about each of these topics. Weather Events Chart ---------------------- ------------------- --------------- ---------------- ---------------- **Thunderstorms** **Tornadoes** **Hurricanes** **Snowstorms** **Temperature** **Precipitation** **Safety Rules** Thunderstorms When an area has heavy rainstorms that include thunder and lightning we called this a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms form in large cumulonimbus clouds or thunderheads. Typically thunderstorms begin when warm air is forced upward and then collides with a cold front. As the warm air rises it will cool and form dense clouds known as thunderheads. Thunderheads will release heavy rain and sometimes even hail. **What is lightning?** Lightning is a sudden spark, or an energy discharge, from positive and negative electrical charges that have been built up in storm clouds or between clouds and the ground. **What is thunder?** Thunder is the sound of the explosion that occurs when heated air rapidly expands. Light travels faster than sound; therefore, you see lightning before you hear thunder. The primary safety caution, during a thunderstorm, is to get inside a safe structure like a house. During thunderstorms avoid touching metal objects because they can conduct electricity from lightning into your body. Usually, lightning strikes the tallest nearby object. If you were to find yourself caught in an open space, like a golf course or field, and can\'t get to shelter you might be the tallest thing in that area. You may be tempted to seek shelter under a tree, but this is not a good idea because the tree could be struck, and the lightning might travel from the tree to you. It is best to get as low as possible, crouching with your hands around your knees and your head down. If you are swimming or in a boat, get to the shore and find shelter away from water. Inside your house avoid touching electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures.  Hurricanes and Tornadoes A hurricane is a tropical storm distinguished by high winds. They begin over warm water as a low-pressure area, or tropical disturbance. As the tropical disturbance grows in size and strength it is upgraded to a tropical storm, which may then become a hurricane. Hurricanes get their energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean\'s surface.A large storm from space Description automatically generated At the center of a hurricane is a ring of clouds surrounding a quiet \"eye\". If you were in the path of a hurricane, you would experience winds that are continuously getting stronger as the eye approaches. Finally, once the eye arrives, suddenly the weather would change. The winds would become still and the sky may even seem clear. After the eye passes, the storm begins again, but now the wind would blow from the opposite direction. Hurricanes can last a week or more drawing its energy from warm, moist air. A tornado is a rapidly spinning, funnel-shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to Earth\'s surface. If a tornado occurs over a lake or the ocean it is called a waterspout. Tornadoes are typically brief, but they can be deadly. Tornadoes develop in low, heavy cumulonimbus clouds. Severe Weather Safety **Safety during Tornadoes** The safest place to be during a tornado is in the basement of a well-built building. If there is no basement the safest place is the lowest level of the building you are in. It is important to stay away from doors that could break and fly through the air and to stay away from windows that could shatter sending shards of glass flying through the air. During a tornado it is a good idea to lie on the floor under a sturdy piece of furniture. Be mindful to protect your head, you could even take extra precaution by wearing a helmet you may have around for a sport. If you are caught outdoors or in a car or mobile home, move to a building or lie flat in a ditch. Example of school Tornado Safety Chart**Safety during Hurricanes** The primary way to ensure safety during a hurricane is to evacuate or move away temporarily. If a hurricane warning is given, which means conditions are likely for a hurricane, you may be asked to evacuate to a safer location. If you must remain where you are be sure you are in a well-built structure and move to the interior of the building, away from windows.