JASON Science - Education through Exploration

The JASON Project, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Geographic Society, connects young students with great explorers and great events to inspire and motivate them to learn science. Its core curriculum units are designed for 5th - 8th grade classrooms but are flexible enough to be adapted for higher or lower grades.

The National Hurricane Center is not affiliated with the JASON Project, but provides the following links as an educational resource regarding tropical storms and hurricanes.

Title Description Resource Type URL

Meet Jason Dunion Meet NOAA research meteorologist Jason Dunion, who predicts and tracks hurricanes. Video http://www.jason.org/digital_library/244.aspx

Meet Shirley Murillo Meet NOAA scientist Shirley Murillo and learn about her work as a research meteorologist. Video http://www.jason.org/digital_library/245.aspx

Mission 5: Argonaut Field Assignment Join research meteorologist Shirley Murillo and her team of Argonauts as they learn how to collect wind and atmospheric data in order to help communities better prepare for hurricanes and other storm events. Video http://www.jason.org/digital_library/240.aspx

Mission Briefing 4: The Hunt Learn about what a hurricane is and how it forms, what influences a hurricane's strength, how scientists measure the conditions in a hurricane, and how to interpret a storm's intensity. You are also invited to join NOAA research meteorologist Jason Dunion in a Digital Lab, which contains tools to predict the path and intensity of incoming hurricanes. Video http://www.jason.org/digital_library/237.aspx

Mission Briefing 5: The Recovery Discover how you can prepare yourself and your home for the devastating effects of hurricanes and other storm events. Meet scientist Shirley Murillo and learn how she collects wind and storm data that help meteorologists warn communities of hurricanes and other storm events. Video http://www.jason.org/digital_library/239.aspx

Storm Tracker A hurricane is approaching the US coastline! Where will it hit? How dangerous will it be? In Storm Tracker, you will step into the role of a hurricane forecaster. Analyze satellite maps and weather data in order to make daily storm track and intensity predictions. As landfall approaches, determine which cities must be warned of the impending danger. When it comes to saving lives and protecting property, your forecasting skills may mean the difference! Digital Lab http://www.jason.org/digital_library/1342.aspx

Interpreting Hurricane Data Scientists like Jason Dunion rely on satellite images to help them determine whether a hurricane will develop, where it might strike, and how much damage it might cause. In this lab, you will analyze the image of Hurricane Rita just before it made landfall in September 2005 to see what data it can yield. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/216.aspx

Pushing Up with Pressure In this lab, you will investigate the strength of air pressure. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/166.aspx

Risk Assessment In this lab, you will decide how coastal communities can best prepare for the impact of monster storms by analyzing hurricane risk assessment data. You will also examine recent hurricane activity data and then make emergency response, financial, and emergency supply decisions. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/143.aspx

Saharan Air Layer Could dust from the Sahara Desert have anything to do with hurricanes? Jason Dunion is trying to determine whether hot, dry, dusty air could influence the formation and the strength of Atlantic hurricanes. In this activity, you will build a model to investigate the Saharan Air Layer phenomenon. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/217.aspx

Storm Surge Explore how buildings can be constructed to better withstand the effects of hurricanes, including high winds and storm surges, in this lab. Build a city model and try to protect it from an incoming storm surge while minimizing loss of life and property damage. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/210.aspx

Wind Shear in Hurricanes To go with Mission 4, Lab 1. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/816.aspx

Wind Shear In Hurricanes Wind shear is important to hurricane development. Jason Dunion and his colleagues look for light wind shear to help foster the growth of a monster storm. Without wind shear a convection cell does not form, but too much wind shear can tear the storm apart. In this lab, you will build a model to examine the effects of wind shear on the updrafts that fuel a monster storm. Laboratory http://www.jason.org/digital_library/214.aspx

Evolution of a Hurricane Normally, several hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean each year between June and November--what we call hurricane season. Some of these hurricanes affect the United States. Follow the stages to learn how these hurricanes form. Also find some fast facts and a world map showing where tropical cyclones form. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/213.aspx

Flying into the Eye A powerful hurricane is moving towards the East Coast of the United States. While most people are trying to flee the path of the storm, a group of scientists is flying into it! One of the scientists is Jason Dunion, a research meteorologist with NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. Read about Jason and his work. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/212.aspx

How Energy & Water Interact in the Atmosphere The ways in which energy and water interact in the atmosphere govern what type of weather we experience. Find out how the transfer of energy in the atmosphere sets the stage for events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/192.aspx

How Hurricanes Form Find out the energy source and conditions required for a hurricane to form and strengthen. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/141.aspx

Hurricane Preparedness Read about the differences between hurricane watches and warnings, along with what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. Use the checklist to put together your own hurricane preparedness kit. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/139.aspx

Living With Monster Storms Read about scientist Shirley Murillo's work as a Research Meteorologist for NOAA and find out how her interest in hurricanes developed. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/220.aspx

The Hazards of Hurricanes Read about how scientists are able to anticipate the behavior of hurricanes using modern storm-tracking technology. Learn about some of the tools used by forecasters, how hurricanes can cause dangerous flooding, and other threats these storms can bring. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/121.aspx

The Plot Condenses Strap in for a mission to explore the dynamics of air and water. During this mission, students learn about the work of NASA scientist Robbie Hood, as she flies into the spiral storm clouds of hurricanes to collect data. Her work is highlighted in this article. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/29.aspx

Tracking Hurricanes Discover the different roles played by satellites, hurricane hunter aircraft, Doppler radar, and weather stations in tracking hurricanes. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/157.aspx

Tropical Cyclones In this briefing, discover the characteristics and structure of a hurricane, and learn how hurricanes are a form of tropical cyclone. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/136.aspx

Trouble Brewing in Earth’s Atmosphere Find out how 2005's Hurricane Ophelia presented NASA scientist Anthony Guillory with the opportunity to launch an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) named Aerosonde into the storm. Aeorosonde's mission was a success; the craft returned to base safely, carrying groundbreaking data about Ophelia, and changed the way scientists study hurricanes. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/114.aspx

Why Hurricanes Weaken Discover how high wind shear, moving over cooler ocean water or land, and a change to the moist air can cause a hurricane to weaken or decay. Mission Briefing Article http://www.jason.org/digital_library/151.aspx

Title	Description	Resource Type	URL
Meet Jason Dunion	Meet NOAA research meteorologist Jason Dunion, who predicts and tracks hurricanes.	Video	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/244.aspx
Meet Shirley Murillo	Meet NOAA scientist Shirley Murillo and learn about her work as a research meteorologist.	Video	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/245.aspx
Mission 5: Argonaut Field Assignment	Join research meteorologist Shirley Murillo and her team of Argonauts as they learn how to collect wind and atmospheric data in order to help communities better prepare for hurricanes and other storm events.	Video	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/240.aspx
Mission Briefing 4: The Hunt	Learn about what a hurricane is and how it forms, what influences a hurricane's strength, how scientists measure the conditions in a hurricane, and how to interpret a storm's intensity. You are also invited to join NOAA research meteorologist Jason Dunion in a Digital Lab, which contains tools to predict the path and intensity of incoming hurricanes.	Video	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/237.aspx
Mission Briefing 5: The Recovery	Discover how you can prepare yourself and your home for the devastating effects of hurricanes and other storm events. Meet scientist Shirley Murillo and learn how she collects wind and storm data that help meteorologists warn communities of hurricanes and other storm events.	Video	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/239.aspx
Storm Tracker	A hurricane is approaching the US coastline! Where will it hit? How dangerous will it be? In Storm Tracker, you will step into the role of a hurricane forecaster. Analyze satellite maps and weather data in order to make daily storm track and intensity predictions. As landfall approaches, determine which cities must be warned of the impending danger. When it comes to saving lives and protecting property, your forecasting skills may mean the difference!	Digital Lab	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/1342.aspx
Interpreting Hurricane Data	Scientists like Jason Dunion rely on satellite images to help them determine whether a hurricane will develop, where it might strike, and how much damage it might cause. In this lab, you will analyze the image of Hurricane Rita just before it made landfall in September 2005 to see what data it can yield.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/216.aspx
Pushing Up with Pressure	In this lab, you will investigate the strength of air pressure.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/166.aspx
Risk Assessment	In this lab, you will decide how coastal communities can best prepare for the impact of monster storms by analyzing hurricane risk assessment data. You will also examine recent hurricane activity data and then make emergency response, financial, and emergency supply decisions.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/143.aspx
Saharan Air Layer	Could dust from the Sahara Desert have anything to do with hurricanes? Jason Dunion is trying to determine whether hot, dry, dusty air could influence the formation and the strength of Atlantic hurricanes. In this activity, you will build a model to investigate the Saharan Air Layer phenomenon.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/217.aspx
Storm Surge	Explore how buildings can be constructed to better withstand the effects of hurricanes, including high winds and storm surges, in this lab. Build a city model and try to protect it from an incoming storm surge while minimizing loss of life and property damage.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/210.aspx
Wind Shear in Hurricanes	To go with Mission 4, Lab 1.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/816.aspx
Wind Shear In Hurricanes	Wind shear is important to hurricane development. Jason Dunion and his colleagues look for light wind shear to help foster the growth of a monster storm. Without wind shear a convection cell does not form, but too much wind shear can tear the storm apart. In this lab, you will build a model to examine the effects of wind shear on the updrafts that fuel a monster storm.	Laboratory	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/214.aspx
Evolution of a Hurricane	Normally, several hurricanes form in the Atlantic Ocean each year between June and November--what we call hurricane season. Some of these hurricanes affect the United States. Follow the stages to learn how these hurricanes form. Also find some fast facts and a world map showing where tropical cyclones form.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/213.aspx
Flying into the Eye	A powerful hurricane is moving towards the East Coast of the United States. While most people are trying to flee the path of the storm, a group of scientists is flying into it! One of the scientists is Jason Dunion, a research meteorologist with NOAA's Hurricane Research Division. Read about Jason and his work.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/212.aspx
How Energy & Water Interact in the Atmosphere	The ways in which energy and water interact in the atmosphere govern what type of weather we experience. Find out how the transfer of energy in the atmosphere sets the stage for events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and thunderstorms.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/192.aspx
How Hurricanes Form	Find out the energy source and conditions required for a hurricane to form and strengthen.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/141.aspx
Hurricane Preparedness	Read about the differences between hurricane watches and warnings, along with what to do before, during, and after a hurricane. Use the checklist to put together your own hurricane preparedness kit.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/139.aspx
Living With Monster Storms	Read about scientist Shirley Murillo's work as a Research Meteorologist for NOAA and find out how her interest in hurricanes developed.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/220.aspx
The Hazards of Hurricanes	Read about how scientists are able to anticipate the behavior of hurricanes using modern storm-tracking technology. Learn about some of the tools used by forecasters, how hurricanes can cause dangerous flooding, and other threats these storms can bring.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/121.aspx
The Plot Condenses	Strap in for a mission to explore the dynamics of air and water. During this mission, students learn about the work of NASA scientist Robbie Hood, as she flies into the spiral storm clouds of hurricanes to collect data. Her work is highlighted in this article.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/29.aspx
Tracking Hurricanes	Discover the different roles played by satellites, hurricane hunter aircraft, Doppler radar, and weather stations in tracking hurricanes.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/157.aspx
Tropical Cyclones	In this briefing, discover the characteristics and structure of a hurricane, and learn how hurricanes are a form of tropical cyclone.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/136.aspx
Trouble Brewing in Earth’s Atmosphere	Find out how 2005's Hurricane Ophelia presented NASA scientist Anthony Guillory with the opportunity to launch an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) named Aerosonde into the storm. Aeorosonde's mission was a success; the craft returned to base safely, carrying groundbreaking data about Ophelia, and changed the way scientists study hurricanes.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/114.aspx
Why Hurricanes Weaken	Discover how high wind shear, moving over cooler ocean water or land, and a change to the moist air can cause a hurricane to weaken or decay.	Mission Briefing Article	http://www.jason.org/digital_library/151.aspx