| 1. Hurricane risk 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Hurricanes in the news 1.3 Hurricane forecasts 1.4 There’s a hurricane coming! 1.5 Who’s at risk? 1.6 Risk around the cone 1.7 Preparing for landfall | Demographic surveyHurricane Katrina videoHurricane Florence satellite image, advisories, cone of uncertainty maps, and evacuation orders | Students watch a video to recognize that hurricanes are ocean-based natural phenomena (H1) and become hazards when approaching populated areas (H2). Students study Hurricane Florence using satellite images, advisories, and cone of uncertainty maps to explore impacts (H3), forecasting uncertainties (H5), and evacuations as a mitigation strategy (H71. |
| 2. Hurricane tracks 2.1 It’s hurricane season! 2.2 Winds1) 2.3 That Bermuda High1) 2.4 Controlling fate1) 2.5 Hurricane Irene 2.6 Hurricane Florence1) | Satellite video of hurricane pathHistorical hurricane track mapsHurricane ExplorerHigh- and low-pressure diagramsHurricanes Irene and Katrina paths | Students use Hurricane Explorer to create various hurricane tracks by controlling the positions of high- and low-pressure systems. Students learn how pressure systems influence changes in hurricane path (H4) and analyze real-world hurricane tracks to assess risks (H6). |
| 3. Hurricane strength 3.1 What makes hurricanes different strengths? 3.2 Fuel for a storm1) 3.3 Hurricane season1) 3.4 Rising sea surface temperature and hurricane strength 3.5 Trends in sea surface temperature | Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale diagramHurricane ExplorerHurricane Katrina trackHurricane formation videoSea surface temperature trend graphAtlantic storm frequency graph | Students learn that hurricane categories indicate strength based on wind speeds. They use Hurricane Explorer to investigate how hurricane strength depends on sea surface temperatures that vary by season (H4). Students then examine graphs showing the relationship between hurricane frequency over time and rising sea surface temperatures (H8). |
| 4. Hurricane Hazards and Impacts 4.1 Hurricane impacts 4.2 Wind hazard and impacts 4.3 Rain hazard and impacts 4.4 Storm surge impact and sea level rise 4.5 Hurricane impacts, people, and communities1) | Miami beach area photoWind damage photoWind threat and impacts by hurricane categoryRain damage photosStorm surge damage animation and diagram | Students use photos and diagrams to examine hurricane impacts (H3) caused by wind, rain, and storm surge (H1). They use Hurricane Explorer to create a hurricane forecast that includes a hurricane path and intensity (H5), identifies potential impact areas (H2), and assesses uncertainty and risks (H6). |
| 5. Future risk 5.1 Sea surface temperature in the future 5.2 Sea level in the future 5.3 Costal communities 5.4 Hurricanes in the future1) 5.5 Resiliency 5.6 Future risk and resiliency | Sea surface temperature graphSea level change graphCoastal community photosHurricane Explorer | Using climate and hurricane data, students hypothesize how climate change may affect hurricane frequency, strength, risk, and impact (H8). They use Hurricane Explorer to simulate a future scenario with higher sea surface temperatures, rising sea levels, and increased coastal development to assess risks (H5, H6) and brainstorm mitigation strategies (H7). |