Multiple Perspectives

Explore the different perspectives to help answer the questions from the "Generate Ideas" section.

Web Sites

  • Water Cycle — Animated Lesson focuses on the water cycle, the continuous movement of water between the land, the ocean, and the atmosphere.  Additional links focus on the global impact of the water cycle (video), global warming and the water cycle (activity), and groundwater use and overuse (activity).
  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's Hurricane Featuresprovides information about how, where, and why hurricanes form; discusses the damage hurricanes cause (wind and storm surges); and explains the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale.
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency's Learn about Hurricanes provides basic information on hurricanes.  Topics include the definition of "hurricane", where they are likely to form, and their potential for damage, including high winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, tornadoes, and microbursts.  There is also an illustration showing the Saffir-Simpson scale for classifying hurricane intensity, information on naming hurricanes, and a set of links to additional information.
  • The Texas Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management's Hurricane Awareness has a wealth of information regarding precautions the public should take in the event of a hurricane.  Information includes hurricane evacuation maps, supplies needed in the event of a hurricane, and wind speed and damage warnings.

Articles

  • Michael Pidwirny's article in the Encyclopedia of Earth entitled Tropical Weather and Hurricanes explores the interplay between convection, conversion, and trade winds at the Intertropical Convergence Zone and how the confluence of these processes leads to a large number of storm formations in the tropics.
  • Cleveland Cutler's article in the Encyclopedia of Earth entitled Energy Release from Hurricanes illustrates how hurricanes obtain and release heat and energy.
  • A 1998 article by Roger Nasci and Chester Moore entitled Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance and Natural Disasters summarizes surveillance measures in place to track mosquito-borne disease outbreaks after major hurricanes and floods.

Interviews (Transcripts, Audio)

Emanuel, K.A., 2006, Is climate change increasing hurricane activity?  Hot Science, Cool Talks — Outreach Lecture Series.

In this lecture, Dr. Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explores the idea that hurricanes are becoming more powerful and destructive and asks if these changes are due to a natural cycle of hurricane activity or caused by human-induced climate change.  Although this is currently a hot debate among scientists, new research suggests that the destructive potential of hurricanes is increasing due to the heating of the oceans.

Now that you are more knowledgeable about the water cycle, hurricanes, and mosquito-borne diseases, it is time to share your ideas with the class.