TLDR;
This video provides an educational lesson for grade 8 students about storms, focusing on the conditions necessary for their formation. It covers key concepts such as the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), adiabatic temperature change, air pressure, altitude, and humidity. The lesson also differentiates types of tropical cyclones and explains the role of these factors in the development and behavior of storms, particularly typhoons, in the Philippines.
- Conditions for storm formation
- Types of tropical cyclones
- The role of the ITCZ and PAR in Philippine weather
Introduction [0:01]
The lesson introduces the topic of storms, emphasizing their relevance to the Philippines due to the country's proneness to typhoons. The goal is to help students understand how storms form and the conditions that facilitate their development. The video serves as a preparatory discussion for more in-depth topics such as typhoon formation, parts of a typhoon, and typhoon preparedness, which will be covered in subsequent weeks.
Learning Objectives and Review of Atmosphere Layers [1:07]
The learning objectives include locating the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on a map, explaining the role of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in storm formation, determining the conditions needed for typhoon formation, differentiating types of tropical cyclones, and identifying the parts of a typhoon. As a review, the layers of the atmosphere are discussed: the troposphere (where weather events occur), the stratosphere (containing the ozone layer), the mesosphere (the coldest layer), the thermosphere (where auroras occur), and the exosphere (the outermost layer merging into outer space). Storms form in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
Role of Air Pressure and Latitude [8:31]
Air pressure and temperature play a significant role in typhoon formation. Warm air rises, creating low pressure, which leads to strong winds and rain. Near the equator, it is hot with low pressure, while near the poles, it is cold with high pressure. Typhoons are more likely to form in low-pressure areas.
Decoding Storm Conditions [10:56]
An activity involves decoding terms related to storm conditions using number-letter substitution. The decoded terms include adiabatic temperature change, air pressure, altitude, humidity, intertropical convergence zone, low pressure area, PAGASA (the Philippine weather agency), and storms.
Storm Vocabulary [12:16]
Key vocabulary words related to storm formation are explained. Adiabatic temperature change refers to the cooling or heating of air due to expansion or contraction. Air pressure is the force exerted on a surface area, with high pressure associated with low altitude and warmer temperatures, and low pressure associated with high altitude and cooler temperatures. Altitude is the height above sea level; the higher the altitude, the cooler it gets. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. PAGASA is the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, responsible for weather forecasts and warnings. Storms are atmospheric disturbances characterized by lightning, thunder, heavy precipitation, and powerful winds.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) [19:09]
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is an area near the equator where trade winds from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. This zone has warm ocean water and intense sunlight, causing the air to become warmer and more humid. The converging trade winds push the warm air upward, leading to a chain of convection processes, cloud formation, and thunderstorms. The movement of the ITCZ affects the Philippines' wet and dry seasons.
Low Pressure Area (LPA) [24:41]
A low pressure area (LPA) is characterized by lower air pressure than its surroundings, leading to rising air, cooling, and cloud formation. This can result in rain or thunderstorms. An LPA can intensify into a tropical depression and potentially into a typhoon. Convection, or heat transfer through fluids, plays a role in this process.
Types of Tropical Cyclones [29:00]
A tropical cyclone is a storm system that forms over warm, tropical oceans, including tropical depressions, tropical storms, and typhoons. The term "hurricane" is used for tropical cyclones originating in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific Oceans, while "cyclone" is used in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the Western Pacific, the term "typhoon" is used. Tropical cyclones are classified by wind strength: a tropical depression has winds up to 61 km/h, a tropical storm has winds of 62 to 88 km/h, a severe tropical storm has winds of 89 to 117 km/h, a typhoon has winds of 118 to 184 km/h, and a super typhoon has winds of 185 km/h or higher.
Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) [33:12]
The Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is a designated region in the Western Pacific where PAGASA monitors weather disturbances. The Philippines is prone to typhoons due to its location surrounded by oceans. Typhoons draw energy from the ocean and weaken upon making landfall.
Conditions for Typhoon Formation [36:40]
The conditions needed for a typhoon to form include a tropical location (5° to 20° latitude), warm sea surface temperatures (26.5°C or higher), moist air, the presence of the ITCZ, and the Coriolis effect (Earth's rotation causing the storm to spin). Typhoons do not usually form near the equator due to the lack of the Coriolis effect.
Formative Assessment [42:03]
A formative assessment includes questions about the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs (troposphere), the generic term for an intense circulating weather system over tropical seas (tropical cyclone), the weather in the eye of the typhoon (calm), how landforms affect typhoons (disrupting rotation), and what causes tropical cyclones to spin (Earth's rotation).
