Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Weather Changes
Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, storm surges, tornadoes and heavy rain can develop quickly and threaten life and property. These severe storms occur in all regions of Canada and in all seasons.
PREPARING for severe storms
Before
* Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
* Clean gutters, drains and downpipes.
* Make sure your roof is in good repair.
* Prepare an emergency kit.
When a storm is imminent
* When a severe storm is on the horizon, Environment Canada will issue weather warnings through the Weatheroffice website, automated telephone information lines and its “Weatheradio” service. Radio and television stations will also broadcast Environment Canada weather statements. Pay attention to that information.
* Always check the weather forecast before heading out on the water. Do not go boating in a storm. If you are on the water and see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Remember to file a sail plan with a responsible person, and frequently monitor the VHF marine or Weatheradio broadcast throughout your trip.
* Secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose – indoors and outdoors. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
* Consider going to the sheltered area that you and your family identified in your emergency plan.
During a storm
* If you are indoors during a storm, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces.
* If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Delay may make later evacuation difficult or impossible. Take your emergency kit with you.
* If indoors, you can use a cellular or cordless telephone during a severe storm, but it is not safe to use a corded telephone.
* If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that might fall on you. Avoid the base of steep or unstable slopes and low areas prone to flooding. Stay inside the car.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are violent tropical storms. These extreme storms occur when winds revolve around a centre of low pressure. In the centre, called the eye, there is often a calm area of blue sky.
Hurricanes:
* Occasionally hit eastern Canada, usually between June and November (September is the peak month).
* Are bigger and cause more widespread damage than tornadoes (a very large system can be up to 1,000 kilometers wide).
* Wield very strong winds – of at least 120 kilometers per hour – around the “eye” accompanied by torrential rains.
* Can bring heavy rain and cause significant flooding.
* Can often be tracked several days in advance of landfall.
* Usually move slowly and can batter communities for several hours.
What to do
* During hurricane season, pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings.
* If you live on the coast or in a low-lying area near the coast, move inland and to higher ground. The high winds create huge waves at sea which can be very damaging when combined with a storm surge (see Storm Surges section).
* Do not go down to the water to watch the storm. Most fatalities during hurricanes occur as a result of being caught in large waves, storm surges or flood waters.
* If the eye of the hurricane passes over, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from several minutes to half an hour. Stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs only and remember that once the eye has passed, the winds will return from the opposite direction with possibly even greater force.
* Listen for reports from authorities on your crank or battery powered radio.
* On a farm, it may be better to leave livestock unsheltered. During past hurricanes some animals left outside suffered less injury than those in shelters, which were injured by collapsing structures and flying objects that may have been avoided outside.
Ice storms
Freezing rain occurs when raindrops fall from a warm layer of air into air that is below freezing and become supercooled. When the supercooled droplets strike a surface below 0°C they instantly freeze, forming a layer of ice.
Ice storms:
* Freezing rain can occur anywhere in the country, but is particularly common in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
* Remember that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
What to do
* Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you.
* Never approach power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you could be electrocuted. Stay back at least 10 meters (33 feet) from wires or anything in contact with them.
* When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving if possible. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
* Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with strong winds increase the chances for hypothermia. If you live on a farm, move livestock promptly to shelter where feed is available. Forage is often temporarily inaccessible during and immediately after ice storms.
What to do in case of . . . Winter Storm
The Pittsburgh region can expect a severe winter storm at least once every winter season. These types of winter storms (ice or wet, heavy and sticky snow) can grind the whole city to a halt shutting down transportation systems, and placing demands on the power systems. During these types of storms accidents rise among those who try to drive, and can trap people at home or work.
Before:
Stay Informed. Listen to the radio or television for latest weather information. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A
winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way or have already begun. A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
During:
* Stay safe, warm, dry and calm.
* Do not drive unnecessarily. Of deaths related to ice and snow, 70 percent occur when people are stranded in cars or involved in accidents. If you must drive, bring necessary supplies.
* Dress warmly enough to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
* Do not go outside if you don't have to.
In a Car or Truck
* In extreme cold or in heavy snow, stay with your car until you can be rescued.
* Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat.
* Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
* Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked, which would cause dangerous fumes to backup inside the car.
* Make yourself visible to rescuers. Tie a bright cloth to you antenna or door to alert rescuers.
* Turn on your dome light, at night, when running the engine.
* Raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
* Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
To prepare for a winter storm you should do the following: * Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
o Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
o Sand to improve traction.
o Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
o Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
o Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm. * Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
* A NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts alerts and warnings directly from the NWS for all hazards. You may also sign up in advance to receive notifications from your local emergency services. Download FEMA’s Be Smart. Know Your Alerts and Warnings for a summary of notifications at: www.ready.gov/prepare. Free smart phone apps, such as those available from FEMA and the American Red Cross, provide information about finding shelters, providing first aid, and seeking assistance for recovery.
* Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
* Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
By. Alina Espinoza 3A
PREPARING for severe storms
Before
* Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
* Clean gutters, drains and downpipes.
* Make sure your roof is in good repair.
* Prepare an emergency kit.
When a storm is imminent
* When a severe storm is on the horizon, Environment Canada will issue weather warnings through the Weatheroffice website, automated telephone information lines and its “Weatheradio” service. Radio and television stations will also broadcast Environment Canada weather statements. Pay attention to that information.
* Always check the weather forecast before heading out on the water. Do not go boating in a storm. If you are on the water and see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Remember to file a sail plan with a responsible person, and frequently monitor the VHF marine or Weatheradio broadcast throughout your trip.
* Secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose – indoors and outdoors. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
* Consider going to the sheltered area that you and your family identified in your emergency plan.
During a storm
* If you are indoors during a storm, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces.
* If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Delay may make later evacuation difficult or impossible. Take your emergency kit with you.
* If indoors, you can use a cellular or cordless telephone during a severe storm, but it is not safe to use a corded telephone.
* If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that might fall on you. Avoid the base of steep or unstable slopes and low areas prone to flooding. Stay inside the car.
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are violent tropical storms. These extreme storms occur when winds revolve around a centre of low pressure. In the centre, called the eye, there is often a calm area of blue sky.
Hurricanes:
* Occasionally hit eastern Canada, usually between June and November (September is the peak month).
* Are bigger and cause more widespread damage than tornadoes (a very large system can be up to 1,000 kilometers wide).
* Wield very strong winds – of at least 120 kilometers per hour – around the “eye” accompanied by torrential rains.
* Can bring heavy rain and cause significant flooding.
* Can often be tracked several days in advance of landfall.
* Usually move slowly and can batter communities for several hours.
What to do
* During hurricane season, pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings.
* If you live on the coast or in a low-lying area near the coast, move inland and to higher ground. The high winds create huge waves at sea which can be very damaging when combined with a storm surge (see Storm Surges section).
* Do not go down to the water to watch the storm. Most fatalities during hurricanes occur as a result of being caught in large waves, storm surges or flood waters.
* If the eye of the hurricane passes over, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from several minutes to half an hour. Stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs only and remember that once the eye has passed, the winds will return from the opposite direction with possibly even greater force.
* Listen for reports from authorities on your crank or battery powered radio.
* On a farm, it may be better to leave livestock unsheltered. During past hurricanes some animals left outside suffered less injury than those in shelters, which were injured by collapsing structures and flying objects that may have been avoided outside.
Ice storms
Freezing rain occurs when raindrops fall from a warm layer of air into air that is below freezing and become supercooled. When the supercooled droplets strike a surface below 0°C they instantly freeze, forming a layer of ice.
Ice storms:
* Freezing rain can occur anywhere in the country, but is particularly common in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
* Remember that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
What to do
* Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you.
* Never approach power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you could be electrocuted. Stay back at least 10 meters (33 feet) from wires or anything in contact with them.
* When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving if possible. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
* Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with strong winds increase the chances for hypothermia. If you live on a farm, move livestock promptly to shelter where feed is available. Forage is often temporarily inaccessible during and immediately after ice storms.
What to do in case of . . . Winter Storm
The Pittsburgh region can expect a severe winter storm at least once every winter season. These types of winter storms (ice or wet, heavy and sticky snow) can grind the whole city to a halt shutting down transportation systems, and placing demands on the power systems. During these types of storms accidents rise among those who try to drive, and can trap people at home or work.
Before:
Stay Informed. Listen to the radio or television for latest weather information. Winter Storm Watches and Warnings A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area. A
winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way or have already begun. A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
During:
* Stay safe, warm, dry and calm.
* Do not drive unnecessarily. Of deaths related to ice and snow, 70 percent occur when people are stranded in cars or involved in accidents. If you must drive, bring necessary supplies.
* Dress warmly enough to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
* Do not go outside if you don't have to.
In a Car or Truck
* In extreme cold or in heavy snow, stay with your car until you can be rescued.
* Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat.
* Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
* Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked, which would cause dangerous fumes to backup inside the car.
* Make yourself visible to rescuers. Tie a bright cloth to you antenna or door to alert rescuers.
* Turn on your dome light, at night, when running the engine.
* Raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
* Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.
Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
To prepare for a winter storm you should do the following: * Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
o Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
o Sand to improve traction.
o Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
o Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
o Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm. * Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
* A NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts alerts and warnings directly from the NWS for all hazards. You may also sign up in advance to receive notifications from your local emergency services. Download FEMA’s Be Smart. Know Your Alerts and Warnings for a summary of notifications at: www.ready.gov/prepare. Free smart phone apps, such as those available from FEMA and the American Red Cross, provide information about finding shelters, providing first aid, and seeking assistance for recovery.
* Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
* Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
By. Alina Espinoza 3A
CLIMATE CHANGES
The Earth’s climate is changing. Temperatures are rising, snow and rainfall patterns are shifting, and more extreme climate events—like heavy rainstorms and record high temperatures—are already taking place. Scientists are highly confident that many of these observed changes can be linked to the climbing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which are caused by human activities.What is climate? Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere.
What is weather? The weather is just the state of the atmosphere at any time; including things such as temperature, precipitation, air pressure and cloud cover. Daily changes in the weather are due to winds and storms. Seasonal changes are due to the Earth revolving around the sun.
By. Claudia Flores, Amanda Berman and Valeria Duran 3B
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Weather Changes
Recent weather events such as deadly heat waves and devastating floods have sparked popular interest in understanding the role of global warming in driving extreme weather.
These events are part of a new pattern of more extreme weather across the globe, shaped in part by human-induced climate change. All weather events are now influenced by climate change because all weather now develops in a different environment than before.
While natural variability continues to play a key role in extreme weather, climate change has shifted the odds and changed the natural limits, making certain types of extreme weather more frequent and more intense.
The kinds of extreme weather events that would be expected to occur more often in a warming world are indeed increasing. Rigorous analyses have shown that natural variability alone cannot explain the observed long-term trends of changing extremes in temperature and precipitation.
In contrast, the observed trends fit well with our understanding of how climate change drives changes in weather. Computer models of the climate that include both natural forces as well as human influences are consistent with observed global trends in heat waves, warm days and nights, and frost days over the last four decades.
Human influence has also been shown to have contributed to the increase of heavy precipitation over the Northern Hemisphere.
Extreme weather events do not have a single cause but instead have various possible contributing factors – and human-induced climate change is now one of those factors.
By. Sofia Carrillo 3B
Weather Change
The definition of natural disasters is any catastrophic event that is caused by nature or the natural processes of the earth.
Natural disasters are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure people and damage property.
Earthquakes, windstorms, floods, and disease all strike anywhere on earth, often without warning. The severity of a disaster is measured in lives lost, economic loss, and the ability of the population to rebuild.
Events that occur in unpopulated areas are not considered disasters. So a flood on an uninhabited island would not count as a disaster, but a flood in a populated area is called a natural disaster.
All natural disasters cause loss in some way. Depending on the severity, lives can be lost in any number of disasters. Falling buildings or trees, freezing to death, being washed away, or heat stroke are just some of the deadly effects.
Some disasters cause more loss of life than others, and population density affects the death count as well.
By. Aili Arias 3B
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
My Vacations
In this vacations i had a super great time with my family. We went to shopping (for christmas).
In my house the days before the christmas we eat, breathed and played. In christmas (december 24 and 25) i visited my family and eat with my grandmother and grandfather, i take care my cousins and friends in the house of my grandmother. In December 31 is tradition that the family to brought together in the house of my grandmother and grandfather.
By. Alejandra Muñiz 3°A
My Vacations
What I do in my Christmas vacations:
I didn´t do too much things in my vacations; basically I passed all the time in my house. Before Christmas my family and I went to the United States to buy all the presents for my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Also we went a few days to Río Bravo and Matamoros to pass time with my family because my brother study outside the city and in this vacation he was here, so we take advantage of.
On Christmas Eve we went to my grandma house in Rio Bravo with my mother’s family. We arrived in my grandma house like 8 o’clock; we take the dinner at 10 o’clock and we eat a lot of things like turkey, spaghetti, salad, jam, meat cake, lasagna, pie, etc.
Then we wait to open the presents at 12 o’clock (Christmas). At the end of the day I passed a wonderful time. At New Year eve I go to Matamoros with my Dad’s family.
Every year we do the same so it’s a tradition to my family. We meet in my grandma house. This year a cousin of Dallas came to pass the Ney Year here so that was a great surprise. Also at the end I passed an excellent time with all my family.
After Christmas and New Year I stay in my house the rest of the vacations. Basically I woke up late, go to the living room to see Grey’s Anatomy in Netflix, after I go to eat, read a book and listen to music.
-Claudia Flores 3ºB
My Vacation
In my vacations I went to San Antonio. In San Antonio I went to six flags and to the river walk. In the river walk I went to the rain forest café and I also went to the cheesecake factory.
I past Christmas eve and Christmas whit my family in my grandma’s house. To be truly we ate a lot. I pass my birthday also whit my family and we ate turkey of the Christmas dinner.
We past a good time, we played a basketball game and ate cake. The last week I went to San Luis Potosí to visit my grandpa and my grandma.
There I past New Year. I went to ice skiing and I felt a lot of times, also I went to visit a friend of my dad that haves a lion.
I also celebrate my birthday there to and I ate sushi <3, then we went to the movie theater.
By. Athziri Gonzalez 3A
My Vacations
I watched movies in the laptop and Tv saw The Hunger Game, The Twiligh Saga, Vimpire Academi and others movies; I cried with somthings movies.
Other activite came to my home mygrandasparents, cousins and celebrate Chrismas with ours, at 12 o’clock hada changed gift, and finished with the celebration, next day my family clean all house.
On the new year would pass on family at home as the temperatures where we were at low temperatures, dinner and at 12 we welcomed the new year and opened a bottle of cider and my parents a red wine to celebrate them while my brother and I took cider.
After celebrating the new year as he followed the thread from my family to companados of premiums and thank God I did not touch the baby Jesus but my premiums if so after eating tamales.
By. Sofia Carrillo 3B
My Vacations
In this winter vacations I spent tome with my family. In the first week I didn't go out. In christmas I went to the light's festival in Hidalgo, Tx and visited the house of Ramón Ayala.
After christmas I prepared my suitcase to visit Austin. In my first day at Austin I went with my family to the city's center. In the center I visited the capitol and some bars ( just watch from outside).
In the New Year's eve I ate at the Texas Roadhouse, then I went to the hotel for the countdown. In the second day of the year my family and me visites the house of a chilhood friendo of my dad.
There my sister and me played with the daughter of my dad's friend. The next day we visited the River center mall and we walked around.After that we return to Reynosa.
In the last days of the winter vacations we met some neighbors forma the rosca. But de ate another one in my house. Al the members of my family ended with a doll.
By. Alina 3A
My Vacation
on my vacation I went to Tampico to visit my grandparents, uncles and cousins in the way I got bored arrives to Tampico went to dinner
I wake up late and I was playing with my cousin do music videos that I liked most was the magic rude my cousin played guitar drums my other cousin and my cousin and I singing.
it was Christmas I was given two CD Austin Mahome and Ariana grande, perfume and pajamas I went to dinner was delicious it was turkey and prime rib then beautiful singing then went to sleep the twenty-seven I went to Reynosa with my grandparents.
By. Ana Cecilia 1A
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
My Vacations
I did many things in this vacations. But I didn't go out of the city. I help to my mom to clean the house. I visited my grand parents all the weekends. I cooked cookies when my mom was sick also I cooked for the lunch.
When I had free time, I listened music, also I read Maze Runner. I watched the TV with my sister. Some days my friends had met like parties and I went and I met with some friends.
On Christmas, I went to my cousin's house and after my grandparents, uncles and cousins came and we have a nice dinner.
I spent the New Year with my parents and sister in my house. But in the afternoon I went to my grandmother to have a little dinner and in the night I came to my house. And this was my vacation.
By. Valeria Duran 3B
My Vacations
On my vacation I did many activities in the first week I went to parties of my friends, and good night my family and I spent in my grandmother's house and ate tamales, turkey, etc.
The following week I had a barbecue at Valeria´s home, and new year my family came to my house and we had a great time, we sing we dance, play guitar hero, one, And I had a farewell in my house, to my friends from church they went to study in Edinburg, and made them a surprise farewell in my house And in my free time watching movies with my sister and we ate popcorn, potatoes, etc and had a good holiday.
By. Amanda Berman 3B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)