Hurricane Tracking Lab | Science
In this lab we will be using hurricane data to track storms and investigate their intensity and impacts.
These three short videos give an introduction to where hurricanes form, and how they progress in the Atlantic Basin.
Birth of a Hurricane:
04: Birth of a Hurricane (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.04: Birth of a Hurricane
Forecasting Hurricane Intensification:
12: Forecasting Hurricane Intensification (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.12: Forecasting Hurricane Intensification
The Death of a Hurricane:
27: The Death of a Hurricane (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.27: The Death of a Hurricane
Hurricane Katrina Satellite Timelapse:
Hurricane Katrina Satellite Timelapse (2005.08.24 – 2005.08.30) [720p] (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.Hurricane Katrina Satellite Timelapse (2005.08.24 – 2005.08.30) [720p]
Complete the following activity and scan or photograph to hand in:
HurricaneTrackingLab.docx
Settings
Hurricane Tracking Lab Name ________________________________
Part I: Plotting the Track of Hurricane Katrina
On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane Katrina from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted position with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line.
1. Did Hurricane Katrina make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).
2. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?
3. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?
4. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?
Part II: Plotting the Intensity of Hurricane Katrina
Below are two graphs one on top of the other. The top graph is for Air Pressure and the bottom graph is for wind speed. Both the x and y axes have already been labeled for you. Use the data from the Hurricane Katrina chart on the first page, and plot the air pressure and wind speed on the appropriate graphs below.
5. What is the relationship between air pressure and wind speed as shown above in the graph?
6. What caused the increase in wind speed seen in the graph?
7. Describe what happened to air pressure and wind speed when the Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Part III: Plotting the track of Hurricane Irene
On the “Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart” on the next page, plot the position of Hurricane Irene from day to day using the latitude and longitude in the chart below. LABEL each plotted position with the date from the chart below. Connect the points with a line.
8. Did Hurricane Irene make landfall? If so, when and where? (Include all occurrences).
9. What was the category of the storm when it made landfall?
10. Where was the storm located when it intensified to its strongest category?
11. Where was the storm located when it began to dissipate?
Part IV: Final Analysis
12. What general compass direction do the hurricanes you plotted travel initially?
13. As the hurricanes progress, describe how their direction changes.
14. At what latitude do hurricanes appear to change direction? Was this the same for both storms?
15. Why did Hurricanes Irene and Katrina follow the tracks they did? What controls the track of a hurricane?
16. Why do hurricanes dissipate when they move over land over travel into the midlatitudes?
17. The category of a storm is one factor that will determine the human impact of a hurricane. Describe at least 2 other factors that will impact how big the storms impact is on people.
