Education
Air Tornado
What happens?
Water vapour is injected into an upward flow of air, and condenses to visible steam. There is a tornado effect as the steam spirals upward.
How does it work?
A tornado or twister is a violently rotating column of air, often in a funnel shape, that reaches the ground from a cumulonimbus (storm) cloud. This can be caused by a warm front meeting a cold front to form a thunderstorm, which may then produce one or more tornadoes. These are very rare in Northern Ireland: a mini tornado swept through the Omagh area in March 2002, and another hit Carrickfergus in May 2007.
Why is it important?
In some parts of the world, particularly in the USA, tornadoes cause a lot of material damage and kill people. Meteorologists can use models like this, and computer models, to see how tornadoes work and try to reduce their impact by warning people what path they are likely to take.
How does it relate to the primary curriculum?
- Curriculum objectives: Spiritual awareness (forces of nature); Economic awareness (devastation caused by tornadoes)
- Cross-curricular skills: Communication (if working in a pair or small group)
- Thinking skills and personal capabilities: Thinking, problem solving, decision making; Working with others (if working in a pair or small group)
- Area of learning - The world around us: Pupils can explore: the causes and effects of movement, forces and energy; features of, and variations in, physical and climatic life
- Learning experiences: Investigating and problem solving; Active and hands on; Enquiry based
- Attitudes and dispositions: Openness to new ideas; Curiosity
How does it relate to the post-primary curriculum?
- Science: Pupils should have opportunities to explore the effects of energy transfer
- Geography: Pupils should have opportunities to develop an understanding of the dynamic nature of physical environments
Thinking skills
Understanding the situation; Analysing elements of the situation; Perceiving and establishing relationships between consequences and their causes
Learning styles
Visual; Kinaesthetic; Spatial
Where can you find out more?
www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html (photographs, and an explanation of tornadoes)