Hurricane Visualizations: Modeling Conceptual Change

ESPIRIT II: SVSaturday, March 7th, 2009

Phase 1: Brainstorm – 5 minutesIndividually, describe the

formation and characteristics (e.g., size, season, features, movement, etc.) of Atlantic basin hurricanes using text descriptions and diagrams on the notepad provided

Please print your name in the upper corner of the notepad

Phase II: Collaboration – 5 minutesSelf-aggregate into groups of 3 or

4 based on grade level or content area

Using phase I product, develop a mutually acceptable group representation of hurricane development and characteristics

Select one group member’s notebook to record your understanding – Label as Phase II

Phase III: Web-based VisualizationsMultiple Grade Levels – impact selection

◦ http://scifiles.larc.nasa.gov/kids/Problem_Board/problems/weather/hurricanebasics.swf

◦ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/kids/movncane.swf

◦ http://www.usatoday.com/weather/graphics/hurricane/hurricane_explainer/flash.htm

◦ http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/natural_disasters/hurricanes/framesource_flash.html

◦ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4588149.stm

◦ http://learners.gsfc.nasa.gov/mediaviewer/27storms/

Phase IV: Modification – 5 minutesAs a group, supplement, delete

or modify your Phase II product on a new page in the notebook

Record in the Phase II notebook and label as Phase IV

Phase V: Target Model ExampleGrade Level – intro undergradFormation

◦ Warm water - >80/81/82 to depth 100 m/200 m unstable air

Coriolis Force – 5 degrees N and S of Equator◦ spin

Weak Vertical Wind Shear◦ humid air aloft

Organizational Trigger ◦ airmass front, easterly wave, ITCZ convection

Phase V: Target Model Example Stages

◦ Tropical depression - numbered <38 mph (<33 kt)

◦ Tropical storm - named 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)

◦ Hurricane > 73 mph (64 kt)

Structure◦ Eye

Avg 300 miles wide, 20-40 miles, calm

◦ Eyewall Dense convection, highest winds

◦ Spiral bands dense bands of thunderstorms ranging from a few miles to

tens of miles wide and 50 to 300 miles long

Phase V: Target Model ExampleSeason: June 1-November 30Movement - hurricane's speed and path

depend on complex ocean and atmospheric interactions, complexity of the flow makes it very difficult to predict the speed and direction of a hurricane.◦ Trade winds, Westerlies, STH, Fronts

Conditions◦ Hurricane-force winds can extend outward to about

25 miles in a small hurricane and to more than 150 miles for a large one. Tropical storm-force winds can stretch out as far as 300 miles from the center of a large hurricane

◦ Worst impacts – right side

Phase V: Target Model ExampleCategorization – Saffir-Simpson

More…min, max, history…

Phase V: Target Model Example – 5 minutesAs group assess your Phase IV

product with Target Model on new page in notebook

Label page Phase V

Phase VI: Selection Criteria and Implementation Considerations – 10 minutes

Based on this experience, individually, develop global criteria for selecting visualizations for use during instructional

Record criteria in your notebook and label page Phase VI

Lastly, consider pedagogical implications for the use of visualizations in your classroom◦Record positive and negative implications

for use