The Hurricane - Climate Change Connection: Bringing Cutting Edge Research into the Classroom

Online Workshop

I have been teaching in university for 38 years, but needed to learn more atmospheric science, so have been teaching a sophomore level class in meteorology/atmospheric sciences. I use AMS materials, which are really fine, and my students learn well. I do weather forecasting as part of the class, and include special materials about lake effect snow forecasting, which involves some specialized knowledge. I also include lecture materials about atmosphere and climate change and hurricanes. I would like to have something ready which could be designed around an approaching hurricane, such as Omar which is approaching Puerto Rico today. Is there a way to illustrate uncertainty in the trajectory models that are used to forecast hurricane paths? I think a near realtime exercise involving hurricanes would be a good learning exercise that would engage students, while illustrating a lot about scientific uncertainty. If climate change issue could also be incorporated, ie doing the same trajectory exercise with a warmer ocean, or with cloud differences, that would also be a bonus. Also I am very interested in what others will do or be interested in.