Storm Surges - Teacher's Guide

Learn about the impact of storm surges and rising sea-levels, both of which are likely to increase as a result of climate change.

Video and Transcript | List of Teacher's Guides

Curriculum Connections

Science (Grade 7)

• Examine some of the catastrophic events that occur on or near the Earth's surface.
• Analyse data on the geographical distribution of catastrophic events to determine patterns and trends.

Science (Grade 8)

• Explain how waves and tides are generated and how they interact with shorelines.
• Describe processes of erosion and deposition that result from wave action and water flow.

Science (Grade 10)

• Illustrate how science attempts to explain natural phenomena.
• Describe examples of Canadian contributions to science and technology.
• Investigate and analyse trends in weather conditions to forecast weather patterns.

Geography (Grade 10-11)

• Describe the relationship of the sun, moon and the earth to each other and the sun's and moon's effects on tides.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the origins, distribution and frequency of different kinds of storms.
• Explain the role of water, ice and wind in shaping physical features.
• Analyse the effects of environmental hazards.
• Analyse damage and casualty risks related to flooding in selected areas and identify factors that increase risk.
• Explain methods and technologies used to track and predict weather including dangerous phenomena such as hurricanes.

You Should Know...

Although the focus of this video is on flooding and tides, the underlying message conveyed by the video is the role of climate change on the susceptibility of coastal areas, particularly in the Maritimes. We may associate hurricanes with the more tropical areas of North America – Florida, the Gulf states, the Caribbean islands; however, tropical storms occasionally will get rejuvenated as they move along the Atlantic coast, from south to north. At the same time, they pick up moisture and energy from the Gulf Stream and may join with other frontal systems that move from west to east across Canada and the northern United States. This combination is a deadly one for coastal areas of Atlantic Canada.

Questions

1. After viewing the video, describe in your own words, what a "storm surge" is, and how it would affect coastal areas.
2. What elements are influential in causing a storm surge?
3. The video illustrates two different types of coastline – areas that have marshlands close to the shore, and coastal areas which might be better described as cliffs coming down to the sea (commonly associated with "submergent" shorelines.) How will storm surges affect each of these areas differently?
4. In general what are the factors that cause tides to occur in some areas?
5. Specifically, what are the conditions in the Bay of Fundy which generate "the highest tides in the world" (in excess of 16 metres)?
6. Marshlands, such as those found in areas near the Bay of Fundy, have developed naturally over the past centuries. Humans have built dikes to keep out the water from the Bay. In the video, it is noted that these marshlands are now "lower" than the water (relatively). Explain how this has occurred.
7. What role has global warming played in making some of these coastal areas more susceptible to storm surges?
8. Three cities are mentioned in the video as being vulnerable to storm surges – Saint John, Yarmouth and Truro. Using maps of Atlantic Canada, explain why each of these cities might be vulnerable.

Reflection

1. "Storm preparation" is often associated with the hurricane watches and warnings that we hear from the Canadian Hurricane Center. However, Canadians must also be involved in storm preparation. What are some of the things that we can do to prepare for storm surges?
2. What are some of the things that we, as Canadians, can do to slow down the global warming trends which may be causing some areas of our country to be at higher risk?
3. The video states that we are "more at risk than we were 120 years ago", referring specifically to the coastal areas of Atlantic Canada. Why is this the case?
4. Estimates of increases of water levels in Atlantic Canada range from 50 cm to 1 metre. At first glance, this does not seem like a great increase. What are some of the problems associated with increases of water levels in this area? Outline the factors that are causing this increase. Why is there not a similar increase in water levels in the Great Lakes area?
5. "Weather" is probably the number one topic of conversation. How can we find out more about what weather will affect our lives today ... and in the future?
6. It is often said that we "talk about the weather, but we can't do anything about it". In small groups, debate this basic statement about the weather.

Web Sites

www.climatechange.gc.ca
www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada_e.html
www.adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca
www.jpl.nasa.gov/earth/weather_climate/weather_climate_index.html

Assessment and Evaluation

Assume that you are living in a coastal area of Atlantic Canada. Prepare a brochure to educate your neighbours (classmates) or write a letter to the local newspaper, suggesting efforts that might be made both in the short term and in the long term to alleviate the devastating effects of storm surges. Your brochure or letter will be assessed using the following criteria:

• accuracy of factual content;
• quality of suggestions for both short and long-term solutions;
• method of presentation; and
• ability to persuade the intended audience.