Science NIE ACTIVITY Science Matters!

is a series presented in
collaboration with the Connecticut Academy of
Science and Engineering and the Connecticut
Science Center.
For more information, visit www.ctcase.org
… IN CONNECTICUT or call 860.571-7143.

About the Scientist:

‘Tis the Season My name is Rachel Shurick and I am a Staff Scientist at the Connecticut Science
Center. I have my Bachelors of Science degree in Marine Science. My work at the
Science Center includes the writing and
facilitating of science programs for grades
pre-k to 12, professional development of
teachers throughout Connecticut based
around the teaching and understanding of
science curriculum, and much, much more.
Working in informal science education, not
Another hurricane season is upon us in the eastern United States. Hurricane season only do I get to teach, but I get to learn
spans from June 1st through November 30th, and undoubtedly we will face some storm something new every day from the variety
activity. Recent devastating storms such as hurricane Sandy and hurricane Irene have of students I meet.
left many of us feeling unsettled about this time of year. What’s even more unsettling is
that forecasters are predicting an “active or extremely active” season this year. With all
of the hurricane talk and predictions that circulate through the news this time of year,
many of us may wonder, “How do they know?”
With so many constantly changing factors, forecasting long term weather patterns,
WORDS TO KNOW
such as the outcome of a hurricane season, can be very difficult. Meteorologists rely Hurricane: A severe, rotating, tropical storm with winds equal to
on clues from the past to help them formulate their predictions. One of these clues or exceeding 74 miles per hour. They are also known as typhoons
comes all the way from western Africa, where hurricane formation begins. The western and cyclones.
African monsoon season plays a large role in determining how strong our hurricanes
in the US will be. A strong monsoon season in this region of Africa provides energy for Meteorologist: a specialist
the storms and helps create spin up in the atmosphere. During a very heavy monsoon who studies processes in
season in 1995, the Atlantic experienced 11 hurricanes, 5 of which were considered the earth's atmosphere that
to be “intense” storms and were a 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. An average cause weather conditions.
hurricane season usually produces around 5.8 hurricanes.
Saffir-Simpson scale:
A strong monsoon season in Africa this year is just one of many clues, however.
Another sign that this hurricane season will be an active one is the warmer than
a 1-5 rating based on
average water temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea. Warmer the hurricane's present
water temperatures cause rising air flow which leads to lower pressure. Lower pressure intensity.This is used to
systems help provide energy into the atmosphere due to their upward air movement, give an estimate of the
which in turn, leads to better hurricane formation. Another factor that plays a large role potential property damage
on hurricane formation is called El Niño. El Niño is a wind pattern that comes from the and flooding expected along
Pacific Ocean towards South America and can help to suppress hurricane formation in the coast from a hurricane
the Atlantic. This year, El Niño is not expected to be very strong, and therefore, won’t
be able to halt the movement of these storms across the Atlantic, which is one of many landfall.
ways they gain their energy. Atmosphere: The envelope
Though the predictions are fairly clear for the strength of this year’s hurricane of gases surrounding the earth or
season, what is unclear, as of now, is where these hurricanes will strike. These weather another planet.
clues only allow meteorologists to predict storm formation, not storm path, which will Monsoon: A wind from the southwest or south that brings heavy
become more evident as storms begin their east to west movement across the Atlantic rainfall to southern Asia in the summer.
Ocean and towards North America.
No matter what this hurricane season brings, it’s important to be prepared. Create a
plan with your friends and family in case of an emergency, and always follow information
provided by reliable weather sources such as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Sources:
National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). To learn more about weather • 'Extremely active' Atlantic hurricane season predicted for 2013. ScienceDaily. Retrieved
and climate come visit the Planet Earth exhibit gallery at the Connecticut Science Center! May 29, 2013, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130524144951.htm
• Landsea, Christopher W. “The Extremely Active 1995 Atlantic Hurricane Season:
Written by: Rachel Shurick, Staff Scientist Environmental Conditions and Verification of Seasonal Forecasts” Monthly Weather Review
Vol. 126, March 18, 1997
Next Page: _________ • O’Neill, James M. “Another Busy Hurricane Season on Horizon for NJ” May 23, 2013
www.northjersey.com