Scavenger Hunt on Hurricanes

Question 1. What is a hurricane?

The BBC can help you with your answer.

Question 2. Where does the word "hurricane" come from?

The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory has the answer to your question.

Question 3. Describe the three main parts of a hurricane.

Find your answer at NASA.

Question 4. What conditions are needed for hurricane formation?

Visit HowStuffWorks for your answer

Question 5. What type of pressure exists in a hurricane? How do winds spin in Northern Hemisphere hurricanes?

Visit Shippenburg University to find these answers.

Question 6. What are hurricanes called in the Indian Ocean? What are hurricanes called in the western Northern Pacific and Philippines?

Your answer can be found at the University of Illinois.

Question 7. What "rules" are used to name hurricanes?

These notes from Lyndon State College should help.

Question 8. What name will be given to the 11th hurricane or tropical storm of 2009?

Find the answer at StormFax.

Question 9. Why are some hurricane names retired?

USATODAY will help you with this answer.

Question 10. When is the Atlantic hurricane season? What month has the most activity?

Visit the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory to find your answer.

Question 11. What "fuels" a hurricane? (Hint: Removing this "fuel" causes the hurricane to "die".)

Look for the answer at USATODAY.

Question 12. What wind speeds are found in tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes? Report your answer in mph.

USATODAY has this answer.

Question 13. Why do hurricanes hit the East coast of the US and not the West coast?

Check this FAQ page by Christopher Landsea.

Question 14. What is a storm surge? Why is it so dangerous?

Hurricane Awareness from the National Hurricane Center can help with this question!

When you've finished with this question, listen (and watch!) the explanation of a storm surge at the University of Illinois weather site.

Question 15. The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies the damage caused by hurricanes into five categories. Copy and complete the following table:
Category Number (1 to 5) Wind Speed Height of Storm Surge Amount of Damage

Find your answers at USATODAY.

Once you've completed your chart, check out the animation of the Saffir-Simpson scale at CEMA.

Question 16. What is a hurricane watch? What is a hurricane warning?

Visit WeatherBug to find these answers.

Question 17. Name at least 3 different things you should do to prepare for a hurricane.

Visit Missouri City, Texas to find your answer.

Question 18. What should you do with your pet during a hurricane?

FEMA will help you with this answer! Check both the "If You Need to Evacuate" and the "Information for Pet Owners" sections.

Question 19. Answer the following questions about historical hurricanes: a. When was the first recorded hurricane report made? Who made this report? b. The deadliest US hurricane occurred in 1900. Where did this hurricane strike and how many people died?

The answers for these questions can be found at the Sun-Sentinel.

Finished? Try these interactive hurricane activities!!

Read up on hurricane tracking, then try your hand at tracking Hurricanes Andrew, Camille and Hugo

Can you tame this Tropical Twister Word Search from NASA?

What is it like to fly through a hurricane? Click here for a virtual tour!



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