Instructify

September 11, 2009

We are currently right in the middle of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, having started on May 28th with Tropical Depression One and traditionally running until November 30th. All in all, it has been a pretty quiet season. Only one formation, Hurricane Bill, has achieved hurricane status, but even then it was relegated to messing up air travel schedules. Well, it almost managed to take out a magician, too. Almost…you win again, Blaine.

The US Geological Survey offers a comprehensive hurricane website where the public can access important storm information. Are you part of the more than half of the U.S. population that lives within 50 miles of a coast? Well, no matter where you happen to live, maybe your class is studying up on hurricanes. You might benefit from the information they offer, such as flood levels near your home, coastal impact studies, information on the timing, extent and magnitude of storm tide, and much more.

Numbers and stats are one thing, but sometimes a thing has to been seen to be believed. That’s where pictures of the coastline before and after the storm come in handy. I’m not just talking about human devastation, either. From and environmental science standpoint these images can offer an effective visual for matters like coastal and wetlands changes.

After 2005, no conversation would be complete without giving memory to that devastating hurricane season. The damages wrought in both human suffering and economic losses resonated throughout the United States, with ramifications in both politics and race relations. The USGS site can help your discussion along by providing several reports on Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, to include impact studies, satellite imagery, news releases, and published reports.

USGS Science: Before, During and After the Storm

Instructifeature: It’s getting hot in here! Teaching about climate change

Ready-made interactive science adventures with NOAA Research

Photo credit: zen on Flickr.