Fire Clouds
Podcasts
Grades7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Health
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Provided by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
What it is
- 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.
Teaching tips
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.
From the scientist review
This ~12 minute podcast from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is a discussion with a warning coordination meteorologist from the National Weather Service about the formation of fire clouds. Fire clouds (pyrocumulus clouds) form over wildfires, with smoke being the main ingredient of these clouds. A very interesting discussion about fire clouds and firenados is also included. This podcast would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on the effects of wildfires.
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