1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:18,360 Hello everybody, welcome to Rockefeller Center here in the heart of midtown Manhattan, our 2 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:23,320 today's show's studio, the window on the world. I'm Al Roker and each morning I try to tell 3 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,020 people what to expect for the rest of their day. Every weekday I forecast the weather 4 00:00:28,020 --> 00:00:33,140 outside our NBC studios, in the elements. This way, not only do I get to meet the weather, 5 00:00:33,140 --> 00:00:38,820 but the fans of the today show as well. Although people say I'm a little unpredictable, luckily 6 00:00:38,820 --> 00:00:44,460 meteorologists have the tools they need to make the forecast as predictable as they are. 7 00:00:44,460 --> 00:00:48,940 When I forecast the weather, I analyze data, predict weather patterns, and let people know 8 00:00:48,940 --> 00:00:54,380 if their day is going to be hot and dry or wet, windy, and cold. Like I always say in 9 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:59,260 the morning on the today show, here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. On today's 10 00:00:59,260 --> 00:01:04,340 program, you'll learn how meteorologists and NASA researchers use measurement and data 11 00:01:04,340 --> 00:01:09,940 analysis to predict severe weather like hurricanes. You'll meet a special group of men and women 12 00:01:09,940 --> 00:01:15,860 who measure hurricanes by actually flying an airplane into them. In your classroom play 13 00:01:15,860 --> 00:01:21,180 The Imperfect Storm, a game that allows you to track a hurricane and predict where it 14 00:01:21,180 --> 00:01:26,700 will make landfall. You'll also use computer simulations to study the behavior of hurricanes 15 00:01:26,700 --> 00:01:33,060 and predict their path. Plus, learn about the gift NASA is developing for future meteorologists. 16 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:39,780 So hold on tight, as NASA Connect takes you ahead, above the clouds. Hey, wait! There 17 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:46,780 are no clouds! Aw, man! 18 00:01:52,180 --> 00:01:59,180 Hi, welcome to NASA Connect, the show that connects you to the world of math, science, 19 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:14,020 technology, and NASA. I'm Jennifer Pooley and this is Norbert. Now before we start the 20 00:02:14,020 --> 00:02:19,500 show, teachers, make sure you have the lesson guide for today's program. It can be downloaded 21 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:24,140 from our NASA Connect website. You want to keep your eyes on Norbert because every time 22 00:02:24,140 --> 00:02:28,420 he appears with questions like this, have your cue cards from the lesson guide and your 23 00:02:28,420 --> 00:02:32,820 brain ready to answer the questions he gives you. And teachers, when you see Norbert with 24 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:38,700 a remote, that's your cue to pause the videotape and discuss the cue card questions. Today, 25 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:45,380 NASA Connect is at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Why? This is the home 26 00:02:45,380 --> 00:02:51,220 of the hurricane hunters, the only military unit in the world to fly directly into a hurricane 27 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:55,300 and collect data on a routine basis. We'll meet one of these hunters a little later, 28 00:02:55,300 --> 00:03:01,660 but first, let's learn more about hurricanes. A hurricane is a violent tropical storm with 29 00:03:01,660 --> 00:03:07,620 damaging winds and torrential rain. Hurricanes can form in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian 30 00:03:07,620 --> 00:03:12,700 Oceans. Hurricanes are given other names in different countries, such as a typhoon in 31 00:03:12,700 --> 00:03:19,700 Southeast Asia, a baggio in the Philippines, and tropical cyclones in Australia. How does 32 00:03:20,220 --> 00:03:26,500 a hurricane form? A hurricane gets its energy from the warm, moist air at the ocean's surface. 33 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:32,060 As this air ascends to form clouds, more air is drawn into the hurricane. Winds spiral 34 00:03:32,060 --> 00:03:37,140 inward and we begin to see the familiar shape of a hurricane. At the center of a hurricane, 35 00:03:37,140 --> 00:03:42,100 the air descends, forming a very quiet eye with a ring of clouds surrounding it. The 36 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:46,020 weather in the eye is much different from the weather surrounding it. The winds grow 37 00:03:46,020 --> 00:03:51,780 calm and the sky may clear. Surrounding the eye are bands of heavy rains and very high 38 00:03:51,780 --> 00:03:58,580 winds. When a hurricane comes ashore, it brings high waves, severe flooding, and wind damage. 39 00:03:58,580 --> 00:04:04,940 Hurricanes uproot trees, smash buildings, and destroy power lines. Hurricane Andrew 40 00:04:04,940 --> 00:04:10,380 was the third strongest hurricane to strike the United States coastline on record. Andrew 41 00:04:10,380 --> 00:04:17,380 swept through southern Florida and Louisiana in 1992, causing over $25 billion in damage. 42 00:04:17,580 --> 00:04:22,460 Amazingly, few people were killed, despite the widespread destruction. When we want to 43 00:04:22,460 --> 00:04:28,060 know if a hurricane is going to affect us, we turn to meteorologists. Meteorologists 44 00:04:28,060 --> 00:04:33,180 are scientists who study the causes of weather, like hurricanes, and try to predict where 45 00:04:33,180 --> 00:04:38,420 they will go after they've formed. More accurate forecasts will help prepare people well in 46 00:04:38,420 --> 00:04:44,260 advance of an approaching hurricane, and in turn, help save lives. For more on how 47 00:04:44,260 --> 00:04:49,420 meteorologists predict hurricanes, we came to The Weather Channel here in Atlanta, Georgia. 48 00:04:49,420 --> 00:04:53,580 Well, Jennifer, in order for meteorologists like me to predict hurricanes, we need to 49 00:04:53,580 --> 00:04:59,780 know at least four variables. Temperature, moisture, air pressure, and the most important, 50 00:04:59,780 --> 00:05:04,580 wind. Wind directly or indirectly causes all the damage from a hurricane. For example, 51 00:05:04,580 --> 00:05:09,380 it can produce waves, which cause flooding. Anyway, the winds in and around a hurricane 52 00:05:09,380 --> 00:05:13,660 that push it along and produce this motion are called steering winds. Steering winds 53 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:18,260 control three things, the speed at which a hurricane will move, where it will move, and 54 00:05:18,260 --> 00:05:22,500 whether it will strengthen or weaken. Well, Dr. Lyons, it seems to me, then, if you know 55 00:05:22,500 --> 00:05:26,740 information on the winds, then you can easily predict what a hurricane will do. Well, winds 56 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:30,540 are important, but remember, I also have to look at temperature, moisture, and air pressure. 57 00:05:30,860 --> 00:05:34,620 Okay, all right, so where do you get all that information? We here at The Weather Channel 58 00:05:34,620 --> 00:05:39,100 receive data from weather stations on the ground, from chips and buoys at sea, from 59 00:05:39,100 --> 00:05:42,860 aircraft that fly into the hurricane, like the hurricane hunters, and from satellites 60 00:05:42,860 --> 00:05:47,620 in space. Because our atmosphere is made up of many layers, ideally, data should be collected 61 00:05:47,620 --> 00:05:51,860 at all the different heights or altitudes in the atmosphere. Therefore, we rely mostly 62 00:05:51,860 --> 00:05:56,060 on airborne observations and satellites to measure these variables at different altitudes. 63 00:05:56,580 --> 00:06:01,420 So once you receive the data on temperature, moisture, air pressure, and wind, what do 64 00:06:01,420 --> 00:06:06,380 you do with it? I analyze it. Along with the data we receive, I look at previous data and 65 00:06:06,380 --> 00:06:10,900 how it is changing with time. I use my experience with past hurricanes to predict the hurricane's 66 00:06:10,900 --> 00:06:15,740 strength or intensity and its projected path. Computers at the National Weather Service 67 00:06:15,740 --> 00:06:20,260 in Washington, D.C. receive these data and input the data into numerical models which 68 00:06:20,260 --> 00:06:25,180 generate forecasts. I receive these forecasts at The Weather Channel in Atlanta, Georgia, 69 00:06:25,180 --> 00:06:30,020 along with forecasts made by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. My final 70 00:06:30,020 --> 00:06:35,340 forecast is a blend of hurricanes' current track and intensity, my forecast, computer 71 00:06:35,340 --> 00:06:40,340 forecasts, and a forecast from the National Hurricane Center. Finally, I go on television 72 00:06:40,340 --> 00:06:44,340 and make a prediction about the path of the hurricane and how it might affect people on 73 00:06:44,340 --> 00:06:50,860 the coast and inland. Thanks, Dr. Lyons. Hey, how would you like to use computer simulations 74 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:56,100 to study the behavior of hurricanes and then predict their path just like Dr. Lyons? Shelley 75 00:06:56,100 --> 00:07:01,580 Canright has the scoop. Welcome to my little piece of the world here at NASA Headquarters 76 00:07:01,580 --> 00:07:06,500 in Washington, D.C. From this location and with the help of some technology, I am able 77 00:07:06,500 --> 00:07:11,220 to network across the country to NASA field centers and to other organizations that are 78 00:07:11,220 --> 00:07:15,860 interested in using NASA research data and software tools to produce technology products 79 00:07:15,860 --> 00:07:20,860 for use in the classroom, like yours. Norbert has lined up some students in Monument Valley, 80 00:07:20,860 --> 00:07:25,940 Utah, who will share with you two dynamic websites on hurricanes, websites that use 81 00:07:25,940 --> 00:07:31,620 visualization, remote sensing, and simulation tools to immerse you in past and recent hurricane 82 00:07:31,620 --> 00:07:37,220 events and then present you with a challenge. So, get ready to use the tools that will help 83 00:07:37,220 --> 00:07:42,780 you think and act like a meteorologist as you explore the website, Earth Pulse Center, 84 00:07:42,780 --> 00:07:47,740 created by River Deep Interactive Learning and Exploring the Environment, developed 85 00:07:47,740 --> 00:07:52,900 by the NASA Classroom of the Future. There are a lot of great activities here, such as 86 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:57,220 Performing Arts, National Honor Society, Student Council, and basketball. This is a great place 87 00:07:57,220 --> 00:08:02,020 to go to school. From the NASA Connect website, go to Norbert's lab, then click on the activity 88 00:08:02,020 --> 00:08:06,060 button. That will take you to the Earth Pulse Center. Go to the control room and select 89 00:08:06,060 --> 00:08:12,140 hurricanes. Here you'll find three activity areas, forecasting, analysis, and hazard mitigation. 90 00:08:12,140 --> 00:08:16,940 Click on the forecasting desk first. The hurricane data archive provides access to 91 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:21,700 Atlantic Basin hurricane simulations from the past 50 years. Search for a hurricane 92 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:26,640 by either name or year, and then run a simulation of the storm as it moves across the Atlantic 93 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:32,140 Basin. Compare and contrast tracks from different years to identify common patterns of behavior 94 00:08:32,140 --> 00:08:37,100 among Atlantic Basin hurricanes. Draw your own prediction of the current storm's future 95 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:41,740 movement and behavior. Come back a few days later to compare your forecast against the 96 00:08:41,740 --> 00:08:46,260 hurricane's actual path. If there's not currently an active storm, you can use a past hurricane 97 00:08:46,260 --> 00:08:51,460 to practice your forecasting skills. At the analysis desk, you will compare the line graphs 98 00:08:51,460 --> 00:08:56,540 of several storms' wind histories to identify common patterns of behavior. You can also 99 00:08:56,540 --> 00:09:02,500 examine the inverse relationship between wind speed and pressure in a hurricane. Using processed 100 00:09:02,500 --> 00:09:07,460 satellite imagery from the National Hurricane Center, you'll be able to track data to tell 101 00:09:07,460 --> 00:09:12,700 a more complete story of a hurricane's life. At the hazard mitigation desk, you'll be able 102 00:09:12,700 --> 00:09:16,620 to look at news stories that were published during some past storms to get an idea of 103 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:21,260 the warnings that were issued as the hurricanes developed. Take a virtual field trip down 104 00:09:21,260 --> 00:09:25,700 to hurricane territory from the safety of your own computer screen with the field cam. 105 00:09:25,700 --> 00:09:30,820 By positioning the field cam on a map somewhere along the path of an impending hurricane, 106 00:09:30,820 --> 00:09:35,180 you might get a glimpse into the eye of the storm. Issuing warnings to hurricane-prone 107 00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:40,340 areas is a tricky task. At the warning simulator, you get to set the guidelines for when to 108 00:09:40,340 --> 00:09:45,740 send warning sirens for a particular coastal community. Our second featured website is 109 00:09:45,740 --> 00:09:50,540 called Exploring the Environment. This website provides the tools you will need to complete 110 00:09:50,540 --> 00:09:56,100 the task of reviewing the actions in 1992 Hurricane Andrew in a preparation for tracking, 111 00:09:56,100 --> 00:10:00,700 analyzing, and predicting the course of a new hurricane that may threaten North America 112 00:10:00,780 --> 00:10:05,740 in the future. Using remote sensing images from the NOAA weather satellites, you will 113 00:10:05,740 --> 00:10:11,380 plot the hurricane's progress on a chart and make predictions about its landfall. Thanks 114 00:10:11,380 --> 00:10:18,380 for watching NASA Connect. Bye! Bringing to you the power of digital learning, I'm Shelley 115 00:10:18,460 --> 00:10:25,460 Kenright for NASA Connect Online. This web activity is great. I feel just like a meteorologist. 116 00:10:26,460 --> 00:10:31,460 You know, speaking of meteorologists, Dr. Lyons told us earlier that to predict hurricanes 117 00:10:31,460 --> 00:10:36,340 he needs data collected from the hurricane hunters. Let's head back to Keesler Air Force 118 00:10:36,340 --> 00:10:43,340 Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and meet one of the meteorologists in the hurricane hunters. 119 00:10:47,340 --> 00:10:51,580 Describe the instruments the hurricane hunters use to collect data on a hurricane. What symbol 120 00:10:51,620 --> 00:10:55,780 is used to describe the flight pattern? Which of the four variables shown in the graph is 121 00:10:55,780 --> 00:11:00,780 constantly increasing? The hurricane hunters are a group of men and women in the United 122 00:11:00,780 --> 00:11:05,900 States Air Force Reserve who fly these airplanes into hurricanes to measure the storms. The 123 00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:09,780 data we collect are given to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, who need 124 00:11:09,780 --> 00:11:13,740 to know exactly where the hurricane is right now, how strong it is, and what the winds 125 00:11:13,740 --> 00:11:18,220 are like. But, I mean, why do you have to fly into the storm? Aren't satellite images 126 00:11:18,220 --> 00:11:22,060 good enough? The National Hurricane Center can get very good estimates of hurricanes 127 00:11:22,060 --> 00:11:26,660 from satellite, but sometimes the hurricanes don't follow the book. Sometimes it may be 128 00:11:26,660 --> 00:11:30,780 difficult to find the eye or center on the satellite picture, or they may be stronger 129 00:11:30,780 --> 00:11:35,100 or weaker than they appear on satellite. That's where we come in. The more meteorologists 130 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:38,940 know what the hurricane is doing right now, the better they'll be able to forecast what 131 00:11:38,940 --> 00:11:44,160 it will do in the future. In fact, the measurements collected by the hurricane hunters makes forecasts 132 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,360 about 25 percent more accurate than just using satellite estimates alone. This makes 133 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,800 a huge difference, especially when you're trying to evacuate people on the coast and 134 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:58,560 save lives. Okay, Val, so how do you measure a hurricane? Well, Jennifer, we have weather 135 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:03,480 sensors mounted around the nose of our WC-130 aircraft and two weather stations inside. 136 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:10,400 Let me show you. Great. We collect data from different altitudes or heights along our flight 137 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,560 path. In addition to these weather sensors, we also drop another weather instrument with 138 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:19,400 a parachute that collects data from other altitudes as it falls through the atmosphere. 139 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:24,280 All of these instruments continuously measure temperature, moisture, air pressure, and winds. 140 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,440 The data we collect are immediately sent to the National Hurricane Center. I get it, but 141 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,120 how do you know where to fly into a hurricane? Good question. First, the National Hurricane 142 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,400 Center calls us and gives us the hurricane's forecasted latitude and longitude. The navigator 143 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:41,680 plots the hurricane's position on a chart, then plots our flight path from Biloxi to 144 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:46,960 the storm. The navigator and pilot then discuss the pattern to fly in the storm. You see, 145 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:51,260 to make accurate measurements, we fly a pattern that looks like an X. We start in one corner 146 00:12:51,260 --> 00:12:56,200 of the hurricane, then fly to the center of the X, which is the eye or center of the hurricane. 147 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:00,960 Then we fly out at least 105 miles on each leg of the X, each time coming back to the 148 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,600 eye. As we fly this pattern, we collect data on temperature, moisture, air pressure, and 149 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,600 wind and see how they change. Two of the most important elements we measure are air 150 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:14,360 pressure and wind. Let's look at this graph of air pressure and wind that we collected 151 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,600 in a hurricane that we flew. Okay, let me see if I can interpret it. The horizontal 152 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:24,040 axis begins at the center of the eye of the hurricane, then we have the eye wall here, 153 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:29,560 and way out here we have the outer edge. This vertical axis indicates an increase in intensity. 154 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:32,280 You're right. Now what do you notice about the air pressure and wind in the eye of the 155 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:38,480 hurricane? Hmm, let's see. The intensity of the air pressure and wind is low at the 156 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:43,120 center of the eye of the hurricane, but it begins to increase as you get close to the 157 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,240 eye wall. That's right, and the lower the air pressure, the stronger the hurricane. 158 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,960 That's important information to know. Now let's look at the air pressure and wind at 159 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,240 the eye wall. What do you notice? Wow, the wind really increased in intensity at the 160 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:01,040 eye wall, and the air pressure did too. You're right, and the air pressure continues to increase 161 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,920 as you get to the outer edges of the hurricane. But if you notice, the wind is at its strongest 162 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,040 at the eye wall. But this is just a graph of air pressure and wind. You also said that 163 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:15,200 you collect data on temperature and moisture. What would happen if we added that data to 164 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:22,200 this graph? Well, let's take a look. Check it out. The intensity of the temperature is 165 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:29,840 really high in the eye of the hurricane, and the moisture, well, it's at its lowest. This 166 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,360 sure is a lot of information, Valerie. It is, and you know what? A long time ago, weather 167 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:39,200 geeks did not have this volume of information. They would simply look at a hurricane, use 168 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:44,680 their memory, and say, hmm, this reminds me of Hurricane Baker 26 years ago. They would 169 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:50,240 then base their forecast for the current hurricane on what Hurricane Baker did way back then. 170 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:54,480 Today the National Hurricane Center uses the data we collect from our flight to feed their 171 00:14:54,480 --> 00:15:00,200 computer-generated models or simulations of hurricanes. These computer-generated models 172 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:04,520 forecast how conditions change in a hurricane over time. Knowing what the storm is doing 173 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:09,160 right now helps the National Hurricane Center to predict the future path and intensity of 174 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:13,400 the storm. From this information, hurricane watches and warnings are sent out to people 175 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:18,480 along the coast. When people are evacuated to safer areas because of an impending hurricane, 176 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,920 then the mission of the hurricane hunters contributes to saving lives. My thanks to 177 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:29,040 all the hurricane hunters. You know, earlier you used computer simulation to help you predict 178 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:33,640 and analyze hurricane tracks. Now, how would you like to calculate where a hurricane will 179 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:39,720 make landfall and then issue watches and warnings for people on the coast? NASA Connect traveled 180 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:45,520 north to Boston, Massachusetts for today's classroom activity. Hi, it's good to be here 181 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:51,520 at Bethlehem Elementary School in Boston, Massachusetts. NASA Connect asked us to show you the classroom 182 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:57,680 activity for today's show. It's a game called The Imperfect Storm. Teachers, make sure you 183 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:02,640 download the lesson guide for this activity from the NASA Connect website. In it, you'll 184 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:08,280 find materials, directions, and student worksheets. To begin, your teacher will divide you into 185 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:14,240 teams of meteorologists. It is your job to track the storm brewing off the coast of Africa, 186 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:19,880 predict the probability of landfall, and issue hurricane watches and warnings. A hurricane 187 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:25,600 watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 36 hours. A hurricane 188 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:31,480 warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the next 24 hours. The team 189 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:36,400 with the most accurate predictions will be the winners of the game. First, construct 190 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:41,680 your game board following the directions on your student direction sheet. The Saffir-Simpson 191 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:47,400 scale tells you the classification of a storm by its wind speed. In this game, disks represent 192 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:53,720 tropical storms and hurricanes, categories 1-5. Right off the coast of Africa, there 193 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:59,560 is a tropical wave that is forming a low-pressure system. Winds are 30 miles per hour. The coordinates 194 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:06,560 are 16 degrees north and 35 degrees west as of 06 Zulu time. Record this information on 195 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:12,720 your data sheet and use a Saffir-Simpson scale to classify the storm. Plot the coordinate 196 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,240 or position of the storm on your game board with the appropriate color from the key. Your 197 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:22,440 teacher will give you the next two data points. As before, record, classify, and plot the 198 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:28,840 storm's position. Now, let's determine the speed the storm traveled. If you know distance 199 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:34,440 and time, you can calculate speed. Use a compass and the mileage scale on your game board to 200 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:39,440 determine the distance the storm traveled. Then use formula 1 to calculate the speed 201 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:44,920 the storm traveled. Before issuing watches and warnings, you must calculate the distance 202 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:50,640 the storm will travel. Use formula 2 on your game board to calculate the distance the storm 203 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:56,160 will travel in 36 hours. Then place the appropriate storm disk over the third point on your game 204 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:02,040 board and secure it like this. Use a compass, your calculations, and the mileage scale to 205 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,480 draw an arc from the outer edge of the disk. The area between the disk and the arc will 206 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:12,720 receive tropical storm force winds in 36 hours. An atlas will help you identify land areas 207 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:18,080 at risk. Record your estimated watch. Now use formula 3 to calculate the distance in 208 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:23,960 24 hours and issue a warning. Teams, we have a conflict. A cruise ship is steaming ahead 209 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:30,160 at 15 miles per hour from the Bahamas towards Miami. It's your job as meteorologists to 210 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:35,440 find the location of the ship, decide what action, if any, should be taken, and record 211 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:41,080 your decision. Your teacher will review your data sheet and award points for accurate calculations 212 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:46,360 and predictions. The game continues as you receive more coordinates, weather data, and 213 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:50,520 conflicts from your teacher. When the winds increase to hurricane force, you will need 214 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:55,840 to use two disks instead of one. This is because the tropical storm force winds extend farther 215 00:18:55,840 --> 00:19:00,840 out than the hurricane force winds. From this point on, you will only issue hurricane watches 216 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:05,040 and warnings, so make sure you place your compass point on the outer edge of the hurricane 217 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:10,520 disk, not the tropical storm disk. When the hurricane changes categories, you will need 218 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:16,120 to change disks. As the hurricane approaches land, use your expertise to predict where 219 00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:20,760 it will make landfall. Points are awarded to the team with the most accurate predictions 220 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:27,280 and solutions to the conflicts. So plot, measure, calculate, and use your atlas carefully. The 221 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:32,640 team with the most points at the end wins the game. Special thanks to AIWA chapter at 222 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:39,640 Boston University for their help with this activity. So far on today's show, we've learned 223 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:46,000 how data collected by the hurricane hunters helps meteorologists at the Weather Channel 224 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:51,640 predict hurricanes. But what about NASA? What does NASA have to do with hurricanes? I thought 225 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:58,360 you'd never ask. Without NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, we wouldn't 226 00:19:58,360 --> 00:20:04,600 be able to see Earth from space. NASA's bird's eye view of our planet has revolutionized 227 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:10,840 observations of the Earth's atmosphere, continents, and oceans. A few years back, NASA launched 228 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:16,440 geostationary satellites that monitor the weather above the Earth. Geostationary means 229 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:22,040 that the satellite orbits the Earth at about the same speed the Earth rotates. The satellite 230 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:26,640 collects weather data as it hovers over the same point on the Earth. The data is then 231 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:32,080 sent back to Earth for our use. Thanks to NASA, today there is a worldwide network of 232 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:37,120 satellites above our Earth, collecting weather data over the whole world and transferring 233 00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:42,560 these data back to us on the ground. But NASA's always looking towards the future, towards 234 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:47,600 developing new and better technologies for observing and predicting severe weather, like 235 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:52,960 hurricanes and tornadoes. We're here at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, 236 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:59,960 to meet a scientist who's developing a gift for future meteorologists. 237 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:06,280 How will gifts provide a more complete picture of the Earth's atmosphere? 238 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,800 How does remote sensing work? 239 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:13,720 What does the information collected about the water vapor tell us about a storm? 240 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:17,840 NASA Langley Research Center is developing a new technology which will allow meteorologists 241 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:23,000 to better predict how strong a hurricane will be and where it will cover shore. Scientists 242 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:27,000 like me are working with professors and students at the University of Wisconsin and at the 243 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:33,080 Utah State University on the Geostationary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer. Because 244 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:37,840 acronyms are easier to say, we call it the GIFS. GIFS is actually an instrument that 245 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:43,920 will be flown aboard a geostationary satellite about 22,000 miles above the Earth. We believe 246 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:48,720 our new technology will be a gift to mankind in that it will enable people to avoid the 247 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:53,920 loss of their property and even possibly their lives by warning them of approaching hazardous 248 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,640 weather such as tornadoes and hurricanes. 249 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:59,240 Okay, but how will GIFS improve weather predictions? 250 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,920 Well, GIFS will provide meteorologists with a complete picture of our Earth's atmosphere. 251 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:08,720 Currently, upper air observations like temperature, water vapor, and wind are obtained by launching 252 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:13,600 weather balloons. Every day, twice a day, these balloons rise through the atmosphere 253 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:18,400 and collect weather data over land areas. However, the balloons are spaced very far 254 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:23,840 apart and give us only spotty data. GIFS will collect the same data from space every ten 255 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,600 seconds over land as well as over the sea where hurricanes come from. 256 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,440 Wow! Every ten seconds? Dr. Smith, how will it do that? 257 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:38,000 Using new infrared digital camera technology, GIFS will have several thousand times more 258 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,200 sensors than current satellites to measure atmospheric temperature, water vapor, and 259 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,040 wind. Let's take water vapor for instance. Water vapor is actually water in its gaseous 260 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:52,040 state, so it's invisible to the human eye. When water vapor molecules become liquid water 261 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:57,280 or ice crystals, a cloud forms. Current satellites measure water in the form of clouds, but they 262 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:02,440 do not measure very well the water vapor that causes the clouds to form. Being able to sense 263 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:08,000 the water vapor before clouds form will allow us to predict how, when, and where storms 264 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,120 will form and where they will go. 265 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:14,880 That's great! Sounds like GIFS will provide meteorologists with information on hurricanes 266 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:19,880 even before they form. This can only help save more lives because the more forecasters 267 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,520 know, the quicker they can warn people on the coast. 268 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:28,320 But you keep saying that GIFS will sense water vapor. What do you mean by sense? 269 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:32,640 Oh, good question. GIFS measures elements of the atmosphere, like temperature and water 270 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:38,100 vapor, without touching them. It's called remote sensing, and our eyes do it every day. 271 00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:42,040 Your eyes can sense or measure how a person is feeling without touching them. All you 272 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,440 need to do is look at them, and you'll be able to tell how they are feeling. 273 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:50,680 Oh, okay, I understand how people sense things, but GIFS is an instrument. How does it sense 274 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:51,920 water vapor? 275 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:56,760 By using an infrared camera. Let me show you. This picture of a man in glasses was taken 276 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:01,840 with an infrared camera, seeing through the air and sensing only hard, solid objects, 277 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:07,360 like the wall, his face, and his glasses. Here we see the brightness of the man's face 278 00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:12,440 and the darkness of his glasses. This means his face is giving off heat and is relatively 279 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,200 warm, whereas his glasses and the wall are not giving off as much heat and are therefore 280 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:23,080 relatively cold. This picture is a good example of what current satellites can see from space. 281 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:27,800 The second picture was taken with an infrared camera, seeing air molecules, as well as hard, 282 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:33,320 solid objects. Here we can see his breath, exhaled from his mouth. This is because the 283 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:38,640 infrared camera senses that his breath, which contains water vapor, is warm relative to 284 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:40,520 the cold wall behind him. 285 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:44,800 The second picture is a good example of how GIFS technology will improve weather detection. 286 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:49,200 Hey, you said the water vapor in his breath is warm, so I guess that means it gives off 287 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:49,840 heat. 288 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:55,880 Yes, both water vapor and clouds give off or radiate heat. GIFS can't feel the heat, 289 00:24:55,880 --> 00:25:00,840 but being an infrared camera, it can sense the amount of heat the water vapor radiates. 290 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:05,760 An analogy is when you close your eyes on a partly cloudy day. When the sun comes out 291 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:10,040 from behind the clouds, you don't have to open your eyes to know the sun is there. You 292 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,640 can sense or feel the heat of the sun radiating on your face. 293 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaking of heat, remember the graph Valerie showed you? Heat, but specifically temperature, 294 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:23,240 is an important variable when describing what is going on in a hurricane. GIFS will measure 295 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:28,760 the heat from water vapor even before clouds form. This will allow us to predict the formation 296 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:33,280 and intensity of upcoming storms, like how much rain will fall or how severe the winds 297 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:34,160 will be. 298 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:39,760 Cool! Hurricanes are known for their winds. Will GIFS sense winds, too? 299 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:44,240 Absolutely. Dr. Lyons told us earlier that the steering winds determine where a hurricane 300 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:49,480 is going. There are very few clouds away from the storm where the steering winds are. GIFS 301 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:54,000 measures the movement of the water vapor at all altitudes. These motions are the steering 302 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:57,080 winds which determine the speed and the direction of the hurricane. 303 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:02,240 Well, Dr. Smith, GIFS really is a gift for forecasters and for people who are affected 304 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,240 by severe storms like hurricanes. 305 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,860 That's right. In fact, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenville, Maryland is working 306 00:26:08,860 --> 00:26:13,780 with us to integrate GIFS technology on future weather satellites. Visit this website to 307 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:18,940 learn more about GIFS technology and NASA's dedication to help science better understand 308 00:26:18,940 --> 00:26:19,540 our planet. 309 00:26:19,540 --> 00:26:25,300 Thanks, Dr. Smith. You know, future NASA technology, like GIFS, will provide us with more accurate 310 00:26:25,300 --> 00:26:29,620 satellite measurements. By combining GIFS technology with the data from the hurricane 311 00:26:29,620 --> 00:26:34,740 hunters, meteorologists like Dr. Lyons will be better able to predict hurricanes and help 312 00:26:34,740 --> 00:26:35,460 save lives. 313 00:26:36,460 --> 00:26:41,660 Well, that's about all we have time for today. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make 314 00:26:41,660 --> 00:26:47,540 this NASA Connect program possible. I'm waiting to hear from you. So send your comments, questions 315 00:26:47,540 --> 00:26:53,540 or suggestions to NASA Connect, NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 400, Hampton, Virginia 316 00:26:53,540 --> 00:27:00,540 23681, or email me at connect at edu.larc.nasa.gov. 317 00:27:01,540 --> 00:27:06,220 Teachers, if you would like a videotape of this program and the accompanying lesson guide, 318 00:27:06,220 --> 00:27:11,660 check out the NASA Connect website. From our site, you can link to CORE, the NASA Central 319 00:27:11,660 --> 00:27:17,740 Operation of Resources for Educators, or link to the NASA Educator Resource Center Network. 320 00:27:17,740 --> 00:27:24,740 Until next time, stay connected to math, science, technology and NASA. See you then. 321 00:27:30,540 --> 00:27:32,540 What do you think a hurricane will do? 322 00:27:32,540 --> 00:27:34,540 Well... 323 00:27:34,540 --> 00:27:40,540 Play The Imperfect Storm, a game that allows you to track a hurricane and predict where 324 00:27:40,540 --> 00:27:45,540 it will make landfall. You'll have to decide who's George Clooney. 325 00:27:45,540 --> 00:27:50,540 We have weather sensors mounted around the nose of our airplane and two weather stations 326 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:53,540 inside. 327 00:27:53,540 --> 00:27:59,540 Things to do here at Monument Valley is... Sorry. Okay, I got it. 328 00:27:59,540 --> 00:28:03,540 I'd like to thank everyone who helped make this NASA Connect program. 329 00:28:03,540 --> 00:28:07,540 Liquid water, or ice crystal, or... 330 00:28:07,540 --> 00:28:10,540 My name's Roderick Natani, and... 331 00:28:10,540 --> 00:28:13,540 The Imperfect Storm. 332 00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:16,540 Right. 333 00:28:16,540 --> 00:28:21,540 It can sense the amount of heat the water vapor radiates. 334 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:23,540 That was good. 335 00:28:23,540 --> 00:28:29,540 Moisture. That was a combination of water and moisture.