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Education: Student Outcomes

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Hurricane Cloud Growth

Grade level: 5-8
Theme: water cycle
Video: hurricane_cloud_growth.flv

This animation depicts the hurricane cloud growth process. The release of latent heat (shown by orange "blobs") warms the surrounding air, making it lighter, which promotes updrafts (shown as blue arrows) and vigorous cloud development.

NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) provides a closer look at hurricanes using a unique combination of passive and active microwave instruments designed to peer inside cloud systems and measure rainfall. TRMM allows scientists to study the combustion process in the hurricane engine and relate this process to intensification or weakening. (source)
 
Student Outcomes 
After viewing this video, students should be able to:
Explain the energy conversions found in the water cycle (e.g., evaporation requires heat energy, condensation releases heat energy). (W: 5-8)

Key:  C = climate / O = ocean circulation / T = 21st century technology / W = water cycle