n2y news-2-you Volume XII, Edition 34 www.news-2-you.com WHAT TORNADO CHASE Springtime brings tornadoes to America. Most tornado storms come in April and May. Most people stay far away from tornadoes. Tornado hunters drive toward them! http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/vortex2/ page 1
news page VORTEX is the world s largest tornado project. * VORTEX scientists study tornadoes. The scientists study how little storms become tornadoes. They make storm warnings better and faster. The first team worked in 1994 and 1995 (VORTEX1/V1). * Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes EXperiment page 2
news page Tornado Alley is in the central United States. Most American tornadoes start there. The V1 team drove 18 special trucks into the Alley. The team watched for storms on weather reports. They chased the storm clouds with their trucks. * * See their dangerous work in an exciting 1996 movie, Twister. page 3
news page The scientists studied: wind, temperature and rain. The team took photographs of tornado funnel clouds. The V1 study discovered new information. But the VORTEX scientists needed more. page 4
news page A new VORTEX team (V2) began in spring 2009. It had $10 million to spend. * The new team is bigger than the V1 team. It has 100 scientists and helpers. The V2 team has 35 trucks, 10 with radar. * VORTEX is jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. page 5
news page V2 will finish their two - year study on June 15. The team will study many tornadoes. They will study how tornadoes destroy buildings. What they learn will make buildings stronger. What they learn will save many lives. page 6
people in the news WHO NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS LABORATORY / NSSL The NSSL is in Norman, Oklahoma. Norman is in the center of Tornado Alley. The NSSL studies all bad weather. The NSSL scientists study: tornadoes, blizzards, storms and lightning. http://www.nssl.noaa.gov page 7
people in the news People need a warning when bad weather is near. The NSSL wants to give them better warnings. The NSSL has three research centers: Forecast, Warning and Radar. The centers work together to study the weather. page 8
places in the news WHERE TORNADO ALLEY The central United States has the most tornadoes. Which central states have the most each year? The answer is: Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Nebraska. These states are in the center of Tornado Alley. http://www.tornadochaser.net/tornalley.html page 9
places in the news Tornado Alley was first used in 1904. The name is used in newspapers and on TV. The people in Tornado Alley are ready for the storms. Many houses have strong roofs and storm cellars. Many towns have a tornado siren to warn the people. page 10
places in the news Tornado Alley is between two mountain ranges. The ranges are the Rocky and the Appalachian Mountains. Cold air comes from the mountains. The cold air meets warm Gulf of Mexico air. Tornadoes grow when the two air streams meet. page 11
recipe page Main Dish NEED Tornado Twists Serves 8 16 oz package rotini pasta, cooked according to directions 4 T olive oil 1/2 t garlic powder 1/3 C grated parmesan cheese serving bowl large spoon 8 small bowls and forks 1. Put cooked pasta in serving bowl. 2. Drizzle oil on pasta. Stir. 3. Sprinkle garlic powder and cheese on pasta. Stir. + 4. Spoon pasta into small bowls. 5. Eat. page 12
joke page Knock, Knock. Who s there? Truck. Truck who? Truck by lightning? That hurts!?! Struck page 13
game page Cross out pictures NOT about TORNADO CHASE. plant scientist weather Tornado Alley springtime apple information team destroy tornado study flower radar subway temperature storm warning forecast dance research center page 14
matching page Match the names to the picture. storm study tornado scientist radar weather team warning information forecast page 15
review page 1. WHAT is the paper about? Earth Day Kindness Bus Tornado Chase 2. WHEN do most tornado storms come? October and November April and May February and March 3. WHERE is Tornado Alley? southern Mexico eastern Canada central United States 4. WHEN did a new VORTEX team (V2) begin? autumn 2009 spring 2009 spring 2010 5. WHAT does the NSSL study? bad weather pandemics pollution 6. WHAT do people need when bad weather is near? skis dental appointments warning 7. WHAT part of the United States has the most tornadoes? central southeastern Hawaii 8. WHAT do many Tornado Alley towns have to warn people about tornadoes? nurses tornado sirens email page 16
puzzle page ACROSS DOWN 5 is in the central United States. 1 The V1 study discovered new. 7 Most storms come in April and May. 2 The V1 drove 18 special trucks into the Alley. 8 9 The V2 team has 35 trucks, 10 with. VORTEX scientists tornadoes. 3 4 6 The NSSL wants to give people better. People need a warning when bad is near. The scientists study how little become tornadoes. WORD BANK team weather tornado radar warnings information storms Tornado Alley study page 17
think page 1. WHY would you like to be on the VORTEX team? WHY not? 2. WHY do people need a warning when bad weather is near? 3. WHY is the weather report sometimes wrong? 4. DRAW a tornado funnel cloud. page 18
sports page NEW STADIUM April 12 was a big day in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Twins played baseball in a new stadium. The Twins defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-2. The 39,504 seat stadium is named Target Field. Target Field is in the center of Minneapolis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/target_field page 19
sports page Target Field does not have a roof. When fans are cold, they can go to heated shelters. The playing field has underground tubes to melt snow. The field has statues of famous Twins players. Minnesota fans are proud of their new stadium. page 20
words page tornado storm weather warning team scientist study information radar destroy forecast Tornado Alley page 21