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Fire Clouds

Provided by: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality |Published on: May 19, 2023

Podcasts

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Synopsis

This podcast discusses the features of pyrocumulus clouds, when these clouds form, how they're different from other wildfire-caused storm clouds, and how they affect air quality.
Students will learn about fire-related weather events, how these fire clouds affect human health, and how pyrocumulonimbus clouds can cause severe weather and firenados.

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Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Health

Authors: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Greenstate Podcast

Region: North America, USA - West, United States, Global, Oregon, Southern Oregon

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

It is a brief podcast that does a good job of defining weather-related terms.
This podcast discusses Oregon's Bootleg Fire from 2021 but the content applies to all fire-related clouds.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should know how global warming may affect the frequency of droughts and wildfires.
Students should understand the importance of air quality for human health.

Differentiation

This podcast could augment a lesson on how natural disasters impact ecosystems.
This podcast could supplement a lesson on how pyrocumulus clouds impact the environment and human health.
After listening to the podcast, the teacher could lead a classroom discussion on how global warming and climate change is leading to more wildfires.
This podcast could add to a classroom discussion about how governments can employ dry forest restoration in order to minimize the damage of wildfires.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.