HURRICANE IRENE and GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
(Here's the link to the googledocs version of my powerpoint...unfortunately a lot of the formatting got messed up: https://docs.google.com/a/ma.org/present/edit?id=0AWzlR7LrLM4NZGNkdnZnZF8wY2Y0ZndyZHE&hl=en_US)
Purpose: To study the formation of, preparation for, reactions to, and destruction caused by Hurricane Irene. Also, to research the effects of Global Climate Change on hurricanes like Irene. Finally, to explore some possibilities for protecting ecosystems on the shore line and look at how encroaching on these areas could cause major problems in the future.
Discussion Questions:
1) Can someone briefly explain the concept of Global Warming?
2) Given that Hurricane Irene only made landfall as a Category 1 storm, what do you think about the response to it? Specifically, consider the provisions made by areas such as NYC and how the reaction was different than the one 6 years ago with Hurricane Katrina.
3) Looking at the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xopoWF98y4) that shows how New York could be affected by hurricanes within the next hundred years, do you think there should be some sort of regulation or environmental ethic on how close we can build to the shoreline? Also, should that be an individual responsibility or a government action?
4) How do you think wildlife was affected by the hurricane?
5) As a result of this hurricane, and based on the scientific data that has been released linking global warming to the increase in Category 4 and 5 hurricanes, do you think people will be more motivated to try and live more sustainably? Or will they not make the necessary sacrifices?
Additional Research:
According to a government study conducted by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, "the large increases in tropical Atlantic SSTs projected for the late 21st century would imply very substantial increases in hurricane destructive potential--roughly a 300% increase in the PDI by 2100" (Global Warming and Hurricanes). Basically, the frequency, intensity, and duration of hurricanes could increase by as much as 300% within the next century.
Also, sea levels are predicted to rise about 2.2 feet in that same period of time. Since 1970, the world's oceans have had an overall increase in temperature of about 1 degree Fahrenheit, which has had a direct impact on the intensity of tropical storms.
Images: see powerpoint. they aren't uploading...
Websites Used:
1. Wunderground.com/hurricane
5. http://www.google.com/imgres?q=increase+in+number+of+hurricanes
6. http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/global-warming-and-hurricanes 
