NASA+Webinar,+Summer+2010

**__Title__:** Hurricanes as Heat Engines

 * __Date__:** 6/25/10
 * __Duration__**: approx. 2.5 hours
 * __Presenter__**: Susan Moore (susan.w.moore@nasa.org)


 * __The Webpage Discussed__**: [] //(If you go to this link, and then follow the "Lesson Plans" tab followed by the "Lesson Plans" tab again and then there are various grade-level lesson plan ideas)//


 * In advance, I got an access code to enter the virtual meeting. I then logged in and was able to see a screen manipulated by the presenter on her computer. Additionally, I called in a number on my house phone that tuned me in to what the presenter said throughout the session. This is also how we were able to ask questions. If you had a question, you would just press a button to unmute your phone and you could ask it.
 * The webinar walked us through the resources available on the website. The presenter also walked us through a particular lesson plan, one called "Hurricanes as Heat Engines".
 * It did not go into quite as much detail on the physics as I would have liked, but still went into it a bit.
 * The presenter focused on a sample lesson plan involving data from hurricane Rita.
 * The focus question of the lab: What happens to the SST (Sea Surface Temperature) as a result of a hurricane running over it.
 * The students are meant to go online, look at data and false-color thermal images to varify whether or not a hurricane can be considered a kind of heat engine.
 * Sample Hypothesis: If hurricane Rita did act like a heat engine, then the SST should drop after the hurricane passes over it.


 * __Useful Links introduced in the presentation__**
 * [|www.nasa.webx.com] (web location of virtual meeting)
 * [|http://keep-tube.com]
 * [|www.weather.com]
 * [|www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/tech]
 * [|www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/oilspill/index/html]