ENVIRONMENT Tornadoes left at least 17 people dead across much of the U.S. the past week. The devastation is a reminder that forecasting still needs to get better, says a leading government scientist. (National Geographic News) Learn more about preparing for tornadoes and other natural hazards. Click to enlarge and print this handy emergency-kit checklist, from the good folks at FEMA. Discussion Ideas Read through … Continue reading Improving Tornado Forecasts
SCIENCE Last month, coastlines saw extreme high and low tides known as king tides, which are caused by a chance alignment of the moon, Earth, and the sun. Now the tides are back—and coastal waters may rise by more than 13 feet. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand tides. Discussion Ideas Study our beautiful poster above, explaining Earth’s tides. The poster does … Continue reading King Tides Rule
TECHNOLOGY Developing countries have long lists of problems—illiteracy, disease, hunger, corruption. There’s one more problem that has gotten less attention, until recently: Lightning strikes. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand lightning. Discussion Ideas Read through our activity “Measuring Weather.” How do you think meteorologists and other scientists measure lightning? Do you think they use any of the tools reviewed in the activity? … Continue reading Lightning Threatens Developing Countries
SCIENCE Scarlet skies inspire many viewers to grab their cameras, and prompt a question: Why are some sunsets so spectacular, and others a mere muddle? Stephen Corfidi, a meteorologist who’s written about the science of colorful sunsets, helps us see the light. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand the science of sunsets. Discussion Ideas Read the Nat Geo News article, or read … Continue reading The Science of Sunsets
SCIENCE Key details about a large meteor’s fiery passage over Chelyabinsk, Russia, were inadvertently captured by satellites originally tasked to study Earth’s weather, scientists say. These environmental satellites could help researchers study potentially dangerous near-Earth objects, or NEOs. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to better understand meteors and weather satellites. (No, this video—of the Chelyabinsk meteorite being recovered from Lake Chebarkul—has no sound.) Discussion … Continue reading A Screaming Comes Across the Sky
