This interactive map provides real-time and historical information on hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, as well as the location of energy infrastructure in the United States and Puerto Rico.
Students can use the map layers to see how different energy plants and sources could be impacted by extreme weather events.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students can search for and zoom in on a specific neighborhood.
Students can save and download maps by clicking on the icon in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen.
Additional Prerequisites
Certain layers cause the map to lag at times.
Layers can be manipulated using the double arrow icon and the layers icon, both of which are located at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Differentiation
Science and social studies classes could create maps using the "Historical Hurricanes" and "Pipelines and Transmission" layers and see where local power lines and hurricane tracks have crossed paths. Students could brainstorm solutions for making energy infrastructure less susceptible to extreme weather.
Science classes could task students with developing a visual diagram to show the connection between fossil fuel energy and extreme weather that causes power outages.
Other resources on this topic include this video on the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, this video on climate change and more severe hurricanes, and this video on why climate change makes extreme weather worse.
Scientist Notes
This map is a real-time look at where hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons currently are and the potential for disrupting energy. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-2 Analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and inform the development of technologies to mitigate their effects.
HS-ESS3-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.12.9-12 Evaluate the consequences of human-made and natural catastrophes on global trade, politics, and human migration.
D2.Geo.9.9-12 Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales.
