In the northern tundra of the lower Arctic, a bone-chilling wind develops and heads southward to cross the border. Although tempered by the trip, the north wind remains cold and dry, like a bubble growing wider, larger, swallowing whole states with the advance. In the south, humid air from the Gulf rambles northward, staying low and bringing fair but sweltering weather. Both, whether by creation or chance, meet in the middle of the great expanse of the Plains.
II
Distant thunderheads moved on the horizon, traveling along the fine edge where the sky melded to the land. Swaying with the developing wind, the wheat heads were large and at harvest—like many Kansas fields in late June. A dingy-red, guinea-shaped combine provided the only interruption to a golden floor. Its sloped back and abrupt front glided through the stalks with a certain grace and ease. A cloud of murky, brown dust rolled behind the combine, infusing the circulating air with the smell of dried grass and earthy dirt, a smell like the first few days in autumn when the leaves fall and begin their decay. The engine thun...
Tornadoes are some of the most unpredictable weather we have on earth. Tornadoes belong to the category of meteorology in earth science. Meteorology is the science that deals with the weather and conditions. A tornado is a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progress in a narrow path over the land, (Merriam-Webster, 2014).
On the afternoon of Monday May 3, two air masses met over central Oklahoma. One of the air masses was warm, moist air traveling north from the Gulf of Mexico. The other was cold dry air moving west across the plains from the Rocky Mountains. This collision of air
From the opening we see that Chopin intends to use the storm to move the
The Information in “The Dust Bowl” suggest that When the economy plummeted during the 1920’s the price of wheat dropped to an all-time low, Since wheat became no longer profitable as is farmers decided to cultivate more to even the loss (3-4). This radical decision was done in an area that was not supposed to be used for mass farming practices.
On September 8, 1900, the United States experienced the most devastating natural disaster in history, the 1900 storm. Originating as a tropical storm off the coast of Cuba, the 1900 storm didn’t reach hurricane status until passing Key West, Florida. While in the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, the storm took an unexpected turn heading towards the Texas coast. Because of the lack of technology during this era, the people were warned that a storm of moderate intensity was headed toward them. Unaware that the storm was forcefully gaining speed, the Galvestonians were in no way prepared for the extraordinary weather which was quietly approaching. Suddenly, the ruthless hurricane struck the shores of Galveston, Texas, one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, famous for its shipping port. The brutal winds of the storm shocked the city, as they desperately sought shelter.
The dust bowl has a long history for its impact on agriculture. Starting around the early 1930s, the dust storms were becoming visible in the middle region of the United States (Ganzel, 2003). This middle region was known to farmers as the Great Plains, which consisted of several states such as Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico (Ganzel, 2003). These middle states were recognized for the farmers who grew wheat. Farmers worked day and night to establish large wheat fields in the Great Plains. The fields of the Great Plains were mainly grown with wheat, for it was the crop that farmers thought will lead them to a wealthy life (Documentary, 2014). Unfortunately, the land of the Great Plains was being overran by too many wheat fields. To make matters worse, farmers did not know what good agricultural techniques were; as a result, the land was tilled, over-plowed and abused (Documentary, 2014). The farmers did not know that the land has its limits, and ignoring it will have a consequence. In this case, the consequence was the dust bowl.
When a tornado forms or passes over a water surface, it is termed a waterspout. Like tornadoes, they may assume many shapes and often occur in series or families. Measurements of their forward speeds are scarce, but estimates vary from a few kilometers an hour to as high as 64 to 80 kilometers per hour. Contrary to popular opinion, a waterspout does not "suck up" water to great heights; though it may lift the water level a few meters. The main visible cloud consists mostly of freshwater clouds produced by condensation of water vapor; however, a sheath of spray often rotates around the lower portion of the vortex tube. Thousands of vacationers and several scientists witnessed one of the largest and most famous waterspouts, observed near Massachusetts on Aug. 19, 1896. Its height was estimated to be 1,095 meters and its width 256 meters at the crest, 43 meters at center, and 73 meters at the base. The spray surrounding the vortex tube near the water surface was about 200 meters wide and 120 meters high. The spout lasted 35 minutes, disappearing and reappearing three times. Most waterspouts are smaller, with much shorter lives. This exceptional spout is an example of one that apparently was spawned by thunderstorm-squall conditions, similar to those that produce tornadoes over land. There are few authentic cases of large ships ever being destroyed by a spout, although spouts are a dangerous hazard to small vessels. A few intense waterspouts have caused deaths when they moved inland over populated areas.
For centuries, tornadoes have been a destructive force of nature that possesses the power to destroy cities and take people’s lives. Recently, a new epidemic of tornadoes has been ravaging America which draws the question, is global warming to blame? With up to 300 mile per hour winds and damage paths can go up to one mile wide and 50 miles long, they truly are Mother Nature’s weapon of mass destruction.
The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described a covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow. The dust is symbolic of the erosion of the lives of the people. The dust is synonymous with "deadness". The land is ruined ^way of life (farming) gone, people ^uprooted and forced to leave. Secondly, the dust stands for ^profiteering banks in the background that squeeze the life out the land by forcing the people off the land. The soil, the people (farmers) have been drained of life and are exploited:
Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching.
Insects crawl, busy gathering food, skirting footsteps, and scrambling over debris. Squirrels climbing the trees for safety from my trespassing, pause their frantic movements until the outsider passes. The wind shifts direction, the sound of machinery begins to play, the wildlife flees. I hear the snapping of limbs crack loud enough to silence all that’s around. Machines roll in cleaning the damage from Mother Nature’s fit. Saws make limbs shorter, more manageable, and chippers shred them to bits. Trucks and machines disrupt the peace and neutrality of the surroundings, polluting the oxygen with colorless odors choking the freshness from the air. Moving with the current in the opposite direction, the air becomes cleaner and the noises soften to hushed tones of clean
A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. It is spawned by a thunderstorm (or sometimes as a result of a hurricane) and produced when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. Tornadoes can cause a lot of damage and even deaths. The damage from a tornado is a result of the high wind velocity and wind-blown debris. Tornado season is generally March through August, although tornadoes can occur at any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings: over 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight. From 1950-1995 the total number of tornadoes in Michigan was 722, with an average of 5 deaths and 3,217 injuries (70 a year average) resulting from the storm a year.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the earth’s surface. They are sometimes nicknamed twisters because of their shape and because of what they do. The winds in the tornadoes are usually 100mph or less. In +F4's they can exceed 250mph. They usually stay on a track of a few miles or less and are less than 100 yds. wide. For the development of tornadoes there are a few conditions required. An abundant low-level of moisture and unstable atmosphere is required not only for the tornado, but for a thunderstorm also. A “trigger”, which is a cold front or low level zone of converging winds, is needed to lift the moisture and the air. When the air rises , it becomes saturated and continue to rise higher and higher. They then form in areas where winds at all levels of the atmosphere are strong and turn clockwise with height.Some tornadoes appear as a funnel shape and some have a churning smoky look . Some contain multiple vortices , which are small individual tornadoes rotating around a common center. Some can be invisible , with only swirling dust or debris at ground level as the only indication of the tornado’s presence. Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, and anywhere in the world. The unique geography of the US is what helps us produce some of the most violent tornadoes because of the favorable condition’s for their development . The months with the greatest amount of tornadoes are April, May and June .
A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes can produce massive destruction with wind speeds of 250 miles per hour or more. The typical tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but they have been known to move in any direction. The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 miles per hour but it may vary from stationary to 70 miles per hour. Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are found most frequently in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer months. In an average year, 800 tornadoes are reported nationwide, resulting in 80 deaths and over 1,500 injuries.
The sunset was not spectacular that day. The vivid ruby and tangerine streaks that so often caressed the blue brow of the sky were sleeping, hidden behind the heavy mists. There are some days when the sunlight seems to dance, to weave and frolic with tongues of fire between the blades of grass. Not on that day. That evening, the yellow light was sickly. It diffused softly through the gray curtains with a shrouded light that just failed to illuminate. High up in the treetops, the leaves swayed, but on the ground, the grass was silent, limp and unmoving. The sun set and the earth waited.