Story Game Directions Game Preparation Game Pieces Play

Story Game Directions Game Preparation Game Pieces Play the game Objectives Credits Copyright Notice A Homemade Power. Point Game By Susan Oberg University of Georgia

The Story of the Storm Chaser Storm Chasing has been growing in popularity since the late 1970 s. People from all over the United States and the world are chasing storms for research, commercial enterprise, personal education, and for the sheer thrill of the chase. Many individuals have even made successful careers out of storm chasing. Each year, thousands of people leave their home towns and drive thousands of miles away in hopes of catching the perfect opportunity to study nature at it’s most powerful. Great advances in the study of storms, weather systems, and how to warn communities of danger have been made partly due to the efforts of storm chasing teams. Chasers may travel hundreds of miles in a day and encounter all kinds of unexpected twists and turns in the road. They use their knowledge and experience to locate and chase their target storms. Learning a great deal about meteorology is a real necessity. It not only helps trackers decide where to go and gives them an idea of what they can expect, it helps keep them out of harm’s way. Many storm chasers keep the latest instrumentation in their chase vehicles so that they can stay up to the minute on the latest developments in the weather. Most chasers who’ve been doing it a while recommend not only becoming well studied, but also spending time chasing with an experienced chaser or chase team before trying it on your own. Many of them would tell you to just plain not try it. Storm Chasing is not a pursuit for the faint of heart, the uneducated, or the unprepared! Home Page

Game Directions The goal of the game is to reach the target storm ahead of the other players and get the videos, pictures or research data of a lifetime. Using your knowledge, experience, and common sense, you plan and go on the chase in Tornado alley. Part of your goal is also to keep yourself and your team, if you have one, out of harm’s way. HOW TO PLAY: • Each player or team chooses a game piece. • All players or teams may start their chase vehicle game piece in any major city, marked in blue on the game grid. Use the chase vehicle game piece to move toward your target storm. • Each player or team rolls one (1) die to see who goes first. The highest roll goes first, and the game moves around the playing table to the Players may play as individuals or as teams of up to 4 people. • left. • FIRST: Find the Location of your target storm: The first step is finding the location of your target storm. To do this, players may choose a button from the Location set. This will tell the player or team where they must go to get their data or pictures, by number and letter on the game grid. Use a storm game piece to mark your target storm on the game board. This step is only done on the first round of play. • There are two steps to each turn: Knowledge, and Experience. All storm chasers need to locate a storm, then use their knowledge and experience to reach the storm. • Step One - Knowledge: The second step is Knowledge The first player or team rolls the die once, and chooses a button from the Knowledge set. The player/team will then be able to choose a number from the Knowledge buttons and answer the multiple choice question. If the player/team answers the question correctly, they may move their piece toward their storm location the number of spaces that is on the die. • Step Two - Experience: The third step is experience. The first player rolls the di one more time and chooses a button from the Experience set. The player/team will then be able to choose a number from the Experience buttons and answer the multiple choice question. If the player/team answers the question correctly, they may move their piece toward their storm location the number of spaces that is on the die. • Crapshoot squares: Storm chasing is not an absolute science. Nature is unpredictable and there are elements of surprise and rapid change in every chase. If a team or player lands on an orange Crapshoot square, they must choose a button from the crapshoot set and follow the directions on the card. There is a 50% chance of the Crapshoot card being good or bad. • The first team to reach their storm is the winner. The game may also be played as rounds with the best two out of three rounds winning. Return

Game Preparation • GAMEBOARD: Print out slides 60 -63, cut off the edges, then tape together, making sure that the grid numbers stay in sequence. • GAME PIECES: Print out slide 64 (preferably on heavy stock with a distinct color), then cut into individual game pieces. These are the chase vehicles, and markers for target storms. • You will also need one or two standard dice for rolling. • TEACHERS: You may want to print out a copy of slides 101 106 for yourself to guide discussion for the Experience questions Home Page

Time to play Your Storm Location STEP ONE: KNOWLEDGE STEP TWO: EXPERIENCE CRAPSHOOT ! Home Page Game Directions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

A 3 Back to Play the Game

B 4 Back to Play the Game

C 5 Back to Play the Game

D 6 Back to Play the Game

E 7 Back to Play the Game

A 2 Back to Play the Game

B 3 Back to Play the Game

C 4 Back to Play the Game

D 5 Back to Play the Game

E 6 Back to Play the Game

A 1 Back to Play the Game

B 2 Back to Play the Game

C 3 Back to Play the Game

D 4 Back to Play the Game

E 5 Back to Play the Game

A 4 Back to Play the Game

B 5 Back to Play the Game

C 6 Back to Play the Game

D 7 Back to Play the Game

E 8 Back to Play the Game

A 6 Back to Play the Game

B 7 Back to Play the Game

C 8 Back to Play the Game

D 9 Back to Play the Game

E 10 Back to Play the Game

A 5 Back to Play the Game

B 6 Back to Play the Game

C 7 Back to Play the Game

D 8 Back to Play the Game

E 9 Back to Play the Game

A 7 Back to Play the Game

B 9 Back to Play the Game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Your vehicle’s windshield has been smashed by large hail. Lose one turn while you wait for repairs. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You’re unexpectedly in the right place at the right time and get the storm video of a lifetime! You sell the rights to CNN, TBS, and the Weather Channel! You can keep playing or go home and relax for the rest of the season. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You are slightly injured by airborne debris. Go back in the direction you came from to the nearest town to the ER and seek medical treatment. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

A friend at the National Severe Storms Laboratory calls you with the newest information. Advance three more grids toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

A heavy storm hits while you’re in your hotel room, and your chase vehicle is completely trashed when a large tree falls on it. Lose two turns while you look for a new vehicle. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Your excellent weather reading skills are paying off! Advance four more grids toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You’re taking pictures of a storm that’s miles away when you feel your hair stand on end. You follow your lightning safety and narrowly escape being struck by lightning. Your camera and tripod aren’t so lucky… lose one turn while you save enough money for new equipment. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You get some extra grant money for your research project. Advance one more grid toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

One of your team gets appendicitis. Go back the way you came to the nearest town and take him to the hospital. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You’re given a free meal at the local diner just because they think storm chasers are cool. Use that extra energy to advance one grid toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

The upper level winds have shifted. Move your target storm 8 grids to the east and change your driving route. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You’re just waiting around when you see new storms forming just 5 grids to your north. Place a new storm piece on that grid, change your driving route and head for those! Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You find yourself directly in the path of a new storm. Move three grids to the west and change your driving route toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You buy an instant lottery ticket at a gas station and win $20. 00. Use the extra gas money to advance two grids toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You forgot to have your oil changed. Your engine seizes up while you’re driving. You have to have your vehicle towed to the nearest town and wait two turns while your engine is being repaired. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

You get a hefty sum of cash for a speaking engagement. Use the money for a new video camera and some other equipment. Advance three extra grids toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Your spouse says you’re spending too much time on the road. Lose one turn so you can balance out your responsibilities between home and work. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

The university where you work has made you the department head of the atmospheric sciences school. Now you have a whole team to help you! Advance four grids toward your target storm. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

C 5 E 10 D 6 A 3 E 7 B 4 D 8

B 7 A 2 D 5 A 5 B 3 E 6 C 4 E 9

A 1 C 3 B 2 A 7 B 6

B 9 C 6 D 7 A 4 E 8 B 5 D 9 C 7

Chase Vehicles and Storms Return

Knowledge Question #1 The Fugita Scale for tornadoes is used to measure: Wind speed and damage Height of the clouds Distance the storm travels

Knowledge Question #2 The Saffir-Simpson Scale measures: Tornadoes Waterspouts Hurricanes

Knowledge Question #3 A thunderstorm which has grown vertically to an unusual height and shows visible rotation is called: A squall line A supercell A feeder band

Knowledge Question #4 Large, cyclonic storms which occur over the Pacific ocean are called: Typhoons Hurricanes Tsunamis

Knowledge Question #5 ________ often kills more people than the hurricane itself Feeder Bands The Eye Wall Storm Surges

Knowledge Question #6 The group of states in the Mid-Western United States where the most tornadoes occur is commonly referred to as: No Man’s Land Tornado Alley Twister Land

Knowledge Question #7 Precipitation which begins falling to earth and is caught in a repeating pattern within a storm of upward motion in a strong updraft, freezing, falling, lifting and freezing is; Sleet Hail Snow

Knowledge Question #8 The letters in NOAA stand for: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Nationwide Observing the Atmosphere Association

Knowledge Question #9 The letters in NEXRAD stand for: New Extra Radical Atmospheric Doppler Next Generation Weather Radar Next Radar Atmospheric Defense

Knowledge Question #10 The hydrologic cycle contains the following: Perspiration, transpiration, precipitation Evaporation, condensation, percolation All of the above None of the above

Knowledge Question #11 “Conditions exist which are favorable for producing severe weather” is part of a statement you might hear for: A severe weather warning A severe weather watch Neither of the above

Knowledge Question #12 Altostratus clouds are found: In the lowest level of the atmosphere In the mid level of the atmosphere In the highest level of the atmosphere

Knowledge Question #13 Air pressure is measured with: A barometer A thermometer An anemometer

Knowledge Question #14 An event in the tropical Eastern Pacific in which seasurface temperatures are significantly above normal is called: La Nina La Abuelita El Nino

Knowledge Question #15 Water vapor that has condensed and frozen at ground level is: Scud Frost Snow

Knowledge Question #16 Upper level wind patterns in the United States generally move from North to south East to West to East South to North

Knowledge Question #17 The temperature to which the air must be cooled for condensation to occur is called: Rain point Freeze point Dew point

Knowledge Question #18 The temperature at which water freezes is: 32 Fahrenheit 0 Celsius 273 Kelvin All of the above The first two answers only

Experience Question #1 You are packing your First Aid Kit. Name at least five things your kit should include. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #2 Name at least five things you would definitely want in your chase vehicle. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #3 In the event that you are driving and get caught in a large hail storm you would want to: (Name at least three things) Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #4 Is your car the safest place to be if you are caught in the path of a tornado? What should you do? Name at least five things Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #5 From the safest standpoint, should you place your vehicle in the path of a storm you’re chasing, or behind it? Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #6 Storm chasing isn’t all excitement all the time. There is a lot of waiting around involved. What can you do while you’re waiting for storms to develop? Name at least five things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #7 The yellow states in this map are commonly referred to as Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #8 What is the radar image in this picture is commonly referred to, and what does it show? Name at least three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #9 This picture shows the storm surge in a hurricane. What can a storm surge do? Name at least three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #10 If you are in a building when a tornado occurs and there is no basement or storm shelter, what should you do? Name at least five things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #11 If you are chasing in a hurricane warning area and a mandatory evacuation is ordered, should you try to stay or leave the area? Name at least five hazards you would face if you stayed. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #12 What is GOES, and what does it do? Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #13 You are in an open field taking pictures of a nearby storm. Your hair begins to stand on end and your skin prickles… what does this mean and what should you do? Name at least three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #14 What are Mammatus clouds and what do they show about a storm? Name three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #15 What is “core-punching”? Is it something you should do? Why? Name at least five things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #16 What sorts of things might you be trying to collect when you’re chasing storms? Name at least three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #17 What was TOTO? Describe at least five things about it. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Experience Question #18 What is the difference between a storm spotter and a storm chaser? Name at least three things. Home Page Back to Play the Game Directions

Teacher Printout for Experience Time limit on response approximately 3 minutes per question Educators may use information beyond the possible answers listed. These are just starting points… You are packing your First Aid Kit. Name five things your kit should include. protective gloves CPR mask gauze rolls and pads band aids thermometer scissors tweezers tongue depressors tape duct tape Safety Glasses Name five things you would definitely want in your chase vehicle: Cell phone Gas First Aid Kit Laptop with link to weather services Video Camera Still Camera Film Flashlight Batteries Road Maps Jumper Cables

Teacher Printout for Experience In the event that you are driving and get caught in a large hail storm you would want to: Pull your vehicle under an overpass Park under the nearest shelter Drive in a direction that will move you away from the storm Is your car the safest place to be if you are caught in the path of a tornado? What should you do? No Leave the vehicle and lie in a ditch or other low place Don’t go into to the top of an overpass (why? ) From the safest standpoint, should you place your vehicle in the path of a storm you’re chasing, or behind it? Never in front of an oncoming storm Storm chasing isn’t all excitement all the time. There is a lot of waiting around involved. What can you do while you’re waiting for storms to develop? Check on updated weather conditions Drive to the location you think storms might occur Play games, read, or study Watch wildlife Talk with your chase team or get a tan Work on your vehicle Call your mom, but don’t tell her what you’re doing

Teacher Printout for Experience The yellow states in this map are commonly referred to as Tornado Alley What is the radar image in this picture is commonly referred to, and what does it show? “J hook” “Hook Echo” Areas where winds are moving in the opposite directions a location where a tornado might possibly be forming This picture shows the storm surge in a hurricane. What can a storm surge do? Flood low-laying on the coast and inland Bring higher than normal tides Cause coastal erosion Cause more loss of life than the hurricane itself Carry storm debris Cause large boats and objects to be moved a distance from their original spot If you are in a building when a tornado occurs and there is no basement or storm shelter, what should you do? Go to the lowest level Go to the interior, away from doors and windows Go into a windowless room in the interior of the building, such as a closet or bathroom, or an interior hallway or stairwell. Stay out of elevators! Leave mobile homes altogether – lay in a low lying area face down and cover your head Protect yourself with mattresses, blankets Get under heavy furniture such as tables (not tables with glass!

Teacher Printout for Experience If you are chasing in a hurricane warning area and a mandatory evacuation is ordered, should you try to stay or leave the area? Name some hazards you would face if you stayed. Leave the area. Better to lose this one and live to chase another day. Storm surge Collapsing buildings Flooding Flying or falling debris Loss of possible escape routes Becoming trapped without resources in the area after the storm What is GOES, and what does it do? A Geostationary Satellite Takes pictures of our weather from space You are in an open field taking pictures of a nearby storm. Your hair begins to stand on end and your skin prickles… what does this mean and what should you do? Squat as shown in the diagram below with your head between your knees. Do not lie flat! Go quickly to shelter, avoiding trees and other tall or isolated objects. Don’t let yourself be the tall, isolated object! Get inside an automobile with the windows up. (why? )

Teacher Printout for Experience What are Mammatus clouds and what do they show about a storm? Hanging, pouch-like protrusions from a storm cloud Cold air falling from higher in the storm Severe weather may accompany them What is “core-punching”? Is it something you should do? Why? Driving your vehicle into the center of a storm It’s not the brightest or safest idea Your vehicle could be rolled over in a strong wind Your vehicle and you could be damaged by large hail Heavy precipitation and wind might prevent you from seeing a tornado you could be driving into What sorts of things might you be trying to collect when you’re chasing storms? Scientific data such as radar and wind readings Videos for scientific or entertainment purposes Still-life photographs for scientific or entertainment purposes Adventures and stories from local people

Teacher Printout for Experience What was TOTO? Describe a few things about it. TOtable Tornado Observatory Dorothy’s dog in the Wizard of Oz outfitted with a variety of weather instruments -- anemometers, pressure sensors and humidity sensors weighed 250 – 350 pounds meant to be placed in the path of an oncoming tornado Built in 1979 by the University of Oklahoma retired in 1986 and now on display in the NOAA facility in Maryland What is the difference between a storm spotter and a storm chaser? Spotters stay in a given area (county or municipality) that is their spotting area Chasers may travel great distances Spotters provide live storm information to local and larger authorities Chasers may provide information to authorities as well, but also have a larger number of reasons for chasing, such as scientific research, commercial or personal storm photography, news teams, or personal study or adventure.

Back to the Questions

Back to the Questions

Credits All teachers and students at non-profit schools can use, revise, or adapt this game at will at no cost on the condition that all prior designers are cited. • • Originally designed by Susan Oberg, University of Georgia, 06/22/06 with the title “Storm Chaser”. Subject question consulting, thanks to Josh Durkee, University of Georgia Home Page

Educational Objectives • Grade Level – Grades 4 – 8 Science • Subject Area Objectives – Students will be able to use their basic knowledge of weather and storms, and common sense skills to gain an understanding of what storm chasers do. – Students learn to logically re-think strategies when sudden changes occur. – See Georgia Standards S 6 CS 7, S 6 E 3, S 6 E 4. – Having fun is part of the game! Home Page

Copyright • • • Copyright 2006 Susan Oberg Permission to copy this game at no cost is granted to all teachers and students of non-profit schools. Permission is also granted to all teachers and students of non-profit schools to make revisions to this game for their own purposes, on the condition that this copyright page and the credits page remain part of the game. Teachers and students who adapt the game should add their names and affiliations to the credits page without deleting any names already there. Home Page