 Hurricane Tracker Hurricanes-smashing houses, turning over cars, sinking boats, washing houses out to sea. We hear about these terrible storms every year. One hurricane destroyed almost the whole country of Honduras. Years ago, a hurricane hit Texas and became the biggest disaster in the history of the United States. What causes hurricanes? What can be done about them? The Real Deal Hurricanes are powerful swirling storms that start when warm seawater evaporates into the air. They start near the equator and move north, getting stronger as they go along. Unfortunately, we can't stop hurricanes. But we can be prepared when one is on the way. The more we know about how strong the hurricane is, how fast it's going, and where it will hit, the more we can protect ourselves. This is the job of hurricane trackers at places like the National Hurricane Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. How do they track a hurricane? Not so long ago, hurricane warnings came from people who were watching the weather in places like the Caribbean Sea where a lot of hurricanes start. This helped, but it was hard to really tell what the storm would do. Now, things have changed. Hurricane trackers get pictures from satellites, and hurricane hunting airplanes fly right into the middle, or the "eye," of the hurricane to measure the size and strength of the storm. They also use weather ships and buoys that float in the water and send radio signals about what's going on with the wind and the water. What do the hurricane trackers do with all that information? It goes into powerful computers that make maps of the storm. The trackers use mathematical "models" to describe the hurricane and everything about it. Depending on how bad it is, the trackers give out a "hurricane watch" or a "hurricane warning." Information goes out to States, cities, and towns, so people can get prepared and sometimes move out of the way. Hurricane trackers like helping to save people's lives and homes. They especially like the challenge of fighting the storm, using math and computers against the power of rain and wind. Experience and Education How can you become a hurricane tracker? You need to be good with math and computers. But, you also need a college degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences. Some meteorologists are hurricane trackers, some work for television and radio stations, and others work for airports to keep track of flying conditions. Other meteorologists study air pollution, the polar ice caps, or how the weather affects farm crops. What You Can Do Now If you're interested in hurricane tracking or meteorology in general, you can learn more from books and Web sites. You might also be able to be a weather watcher for your local TV or radio station. You can track hurricanes yourself by plotting the storm's location on a map as you hear weather reports. With your computer, you can download hurricane tracking maps and hurricane information and even talk with hurricane hunters and trackers. Meanwhile, don't forget to work on your math and computer skills. Links http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm
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