Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

August 12, 2010 Thursday

Last week I wrote urging teachers to discuss how geography can influence natural disasters with their students. I used the example of how the slope of a continental shelf can influence the magnitude of a storm surge. I received a phone call shortly after posting the blog from a friend asking me, "Please explain more about a storm surge so I can be smarter than my 5th grader."

So here is a little more information to help all the struggling parents/grandparents stay ahead of their children. A storm surge is simply water being pushed ashore by the fierce winds which accompany a major storm system (usually a hurricane). The difference in a storm surge and a tsunami is the force responsible for the water coming ashore. If the causing force comes from below the water, an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption, it will be a tsunami. However if the causative factor comes from above the water, a hurricane or cyclone, it will be a storm surge.

What geographical features can make a storm surge more dangerous? The level of the land above sea level is a critical factor. If your house is located only a few feet above sea level it doesn't take much water to flood it. The Gulf Coast and Atlantic coastlines of the United States are densely populated areas situated an average of only 10 feet above sea level.

Another important factor in the height of the storm surge is the continental shelf slope off shore. If there is a shallow shelf leading up to the land the surge will be bigger because there is nowhere else for the water to go. The coming wave will have to keep growing up (since downward growth is not a possibility) until it hits land. A steep off shore continental shelf is able to contain the water and diminish the surge which comes ashore.

Just to make things a little more complicated you must remember to factor in the time when a storm surge is likely to occur. A surge combined with high tides results in more water. A low tide and a storm surge will produce less water.

Well that is enough of a geography lesson for one day. Remember that you asked me for the information. On the bright side, I am certain that you are now smarter than a 5th grader.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com

Know Your Geography

Wednesday August 4, 2010

How much geography are the schools teaching our children these days? Geography and history have been combined and placed under the broad and vague heading of social studies. (I think social studies is a ridiculous name. It suggests that you will be tested on the previous day's Entertainment Tonight report.) Most of my teacher friends say that the priority is placed on reading, writing, and math development. There just isn't a lot of time left to spend on geography.

I am lobbying all teachers to spend the little time they have allocated for geography teaching their students the information which could one day save their lives. Consider the natural disasters which are most likely to threaten the area in which you and your students live. It could be wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, etc. Next design a class plan which will identify and explore the local geographical conditions which will impact these disasters.

For any schools located along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast an important geography lesson should be about the slope of the continental shelf off their local coastline.
There could be a discussion and demonstration of how a shallow shelf will produce a greater storm surge compared to a steeper continental shelf. Teachers could divide their students into teams, give each team a set of geographical facts (hurricane strength, landfall coordinates, and tide tables) and let them figure out if they would survive the storm. My experience is that kids love this kind of exercise. The most important thing is that one day it might be much more than a classroom exercise. If this should happen you will have imparted valuable skills which could help them survive.

Additional evacuation information available at www.wineandchocolateplan.com