Extreme Events - A Water Falls Docent Script

Too much or too little water can spell disaster. Tropical storms, floods, landslides and droughts are examples of weather events associated with too much or too little water. The oceans drive weather and influence slow changes in Earth's climate, such as El Nino oscillations. Scientists have noticed patterns that relate these slow changes to the frequency and severity of rapid intense storms, such as hurricanes.

• Tropical storms (hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones) originate over warm ocean waters and dissipate over cool water or land
• In 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast of the United States with devastating consequences
• El Nino impacts weather around the world: for example, Atlantic hurricanes are suppressed during an El Nino summer
• Scientist use satellites that measure rainfall to study rainfall patterns and predict potential flooding and landslide activity
• Major floods happen almost every day, with a catastrophic flash flood in Boulder, Colorado in September, 2013
• Droughts have natural causes, such as El Nino, and human causes, such as over-farming and deforestation

• Script
• Playlist

• Water Cycle Docent Script
• Importance of Freshwater Docent Script
• Water Falls narrated movie

In addition to the resources for Science On a Sphere, there is a collection of lesson plans and classroom activities to compliment Water Falls in the Live Programs catalog.