UNDERSTANDING STORM SURGE
OVERVIEW
In this climate education module, students will gain an understanding of the term “storm surge” by exploring the meteorological principles that create storms and generate storm surges. Many basics of weather are discussed, including air pressure, air circulation, and the influence of the Coriolis effect on weather.
Table of Contents
Activity 1 – Oceans of Pressure
Activity 3- Density Driven Currents
Activity 4 – The Coriolis Effect
Activity 5 – Pressure Driven Storms and Surge
Activity 6 – Surge of the Storm
How Meteorologists’ Measure and Predict Storm Surge
Why Should You Care about Understanding Storm Surge?
Storm Surge Watches and Warnings
NOAA’s Top Ten Tips for Being Ready for a Storm Surge
References and Acknowledgements
OBJECTIVES
Following completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Define storm surge and the factors that influence it
- Learn how temperature affects air density and the formation of high and low pressure systems in the atmosphere
- Explore the effect of gravity on air in the atmosphere
- Discover the role of Earth’s rotation on global and localized wind patterns
- Examine the effects that air pressure has on storm surge levels
- Determine how storm surge affects coastal communities
- Explore the impact of shoreline shape and beach slope on storm surge
GRADE LEVEL
5 – 12
NGSS PE’s
MS- ESS2-2, MS-ESS 2-4, MS-ESS 2-5, MS-ESS 2-6, MS- ESS 3-2, HS- ESS2-5, HS-ESS3-5.