Storm Signal

I learned that there are different storm signals depending upon the strength of the cyclone. Public storm signal #1 exhibits winds of 30-60 kph that may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours. Unless this warning signal is upgraded during the entire existence of the tropical cyclone, only very light or no damage at all may be sustained by the exposed communities. Public storm signal #2 exhibits winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph that may be expected in at least 24 hours. In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities. Public storm signal #3 exhibits winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph that may be expected in at least 18 hours. In general, moderate to heavy damage may be experienced, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. I want to know more about the different instruments used to detect the strength of the cyclone. I would like to research on how to easily detect the coming of a cyclone. I appreciate the fact that Philippines has now instruments to help determine natural calamities such as cyclones. I can apply my learning and insights in my daily life, that when there’s a cyclone I have enough knowledge to do the necessary things to lessen the damage that it may cause. 

Fujiwhara Effect

I learned that Fujiwhara effect or Fujiwara interaction, named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, is a type of interaction between two nearby cyclonic vortices, causing them to appear to "orbit" each other. When the cyclones approach each other, their centers will begin orbiting cyclonically about a point between the two systems due to their cyclonic wind circulations. The two vortices will be attracted to each other, and eventually spiral into the center point and merge. When the two vortices are of unequal size, the larger vortex will tend to dominate the interaction, and the smaller vortex will orbit around it. The effect is often mentioned in relation to the motion of tropical cyclones, although the final merging of the two storms is uncommon. The effect becomes pronounced in these storms when they approach within about 1,500 km (900 mi) of each other and are at tropical storm strength or stronger. The effect is named after Sakuhei Fujiwhara, the Japanese meteorologist who initially described it in a 1921 paper about the motion of vortices in water. I want to know more about on how this interaction takes place and what causes it to take place. I would like to research on how it can affect the strength of cyclones and how it can be determined easily. I appreciate the fact we are now knowledgeable about this kind of phenomenon. I can apply my learning and insights in my everyday life, if there is an occurence of such phenomenon i'll be knowledgeable about the things to be done.

Tropical Cyclone

I learned that a tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic windstorms such as nor'easters, European windstorms, and polar lows. The characteristic that separates tropical cyclones from other cyclonic systems is that at any height in the atmosphere, the center of a tropical cyclone will be warmer than its surroundings; a phenomenon called "warm core" storm systems. The term "tropical" refers both to the geographical origin of these systems, which usually form in tropical regions of the globe, and to their formation in maritime tropical air masses. The term "cyclone" refers to such storms' cyclonic nature, with counterclockwise wind flow in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise wind flow in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite direction of the wind flow is a result of the Coriolis force. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such hurricane, typhoon, tropical depression, cyclonic storm, and simply cyclone. I want to know more about the development of tropical cyclones as they pass through a certain place. I would like to research on how we can have the accurate prediction about tropical cyclones. I appreciate the fact that there are instruments we can use to help us determine the necessary information about the tropical cyclone. I can apply my learning and insights in being ready for tropical cyclones that may hit our country, this will help lessen the damage tropical cyclones can brought to us.  

Tail-end of a cold front

I learned that tail-end of a cold front is a front boundary of two  air masses, found in mid-latitudes. It brings rainfall and cloudiness over affected areas. It occurs in  northern portion of the country during the northern hemisphere winter season.It is also defined as the later portion of an advancing or leading edge of a steep cold wedge of air characterized by cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds with frequent precipitation in the form of heavy shower. This was the explanation of the continuous heavy rain that have occured in Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region. The continuous rainshowers, strong winds and thick clouds that enveloped the land of the Bicolanos since the start of the year causes huge landslides and over flowing rivers, causing to an unexpected massive flooding,  have resulted to damages not only to properties but most importantly lives. I want to know more about the effects it may brought  to us. I would like to research on how we can lessen or prevent the extent damage in may cause and the signs of its occurrence. I appreciate the fact that we are now knowledgeable about this, and we can easily get prepared about its occurrence by means of the different media that broadcast the weather forecast and the precautionary measures to be followed when experiencing this kind of phenomenon. I can apply my learning and insights in my daily living like giving extra effort on helping find ways to prevent too much damage that can be caused by this like heavy flooding.

La Niña

I learned that La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5 °C. In the United States, an episode of La Niña is defined as a period of at least 5 months of La Niña conditions. The name La Niña originates from Spanish, meaning "the girl," analogous to El Niño meaning "the boy”. La Niña, sometimes informally called "anti-El Niño", is the opposite of El Niño, where the latter corresponds instead to a higher sea surface temperature by a deviation of at least 0.5 °C, and its effects are often the reverse of those of El Niño. El Niño is famous due to its potentially catastrophic impact on the weather along both the Chilean, Peruvian, New Zealand, and Australian coasts, among others. It has extensive effects on the weather in North America, even affecting the Atlantic Hurricane Season. La Niña is often, though not always, preceded by an El Niño. I want to know more about the factors that causes La Niña to occur in a certain place. I would like to research on how we can prevent/ lessen the extent damage La Niña can brought to us. I appreciate the fact that the government implements law and order that concerns about the cleanliness in the environment, that could help reduce the effect La Niña can cause. I can apply my learning and insights in my everyday life like for example cooperate in maintaining the cleanliness in our environment for us to prevent flooding when La Niña came.

Monsoon

I learned that monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation,but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea.Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase. Monsoons may be considered as large-scale sea breezes, due to seasonal heating and the resulting development of a thermal low over a continental landmass. They are caused by the larger amplitude of the seasonal cycle of land temperature compared to that of nearby oceans. This differential warming happens because heat in the ocean is mixed vertically through a "mixed layer" that may be fifty metres deep, through the action of wind and buoyancy-generated turbulence, whereas the land surface conducts heat slowly, with the seasonal signal penetrating perhaps a metre or so. There are two monsoons that we experience here in the Philippines; the northeast monsoon and southwest monsoon. The Northeast monsoon locally known as "Amihan". It affects the eastern portions of the country from October up to late March, starts over Siberia as a cold, dry air mass but gathers moisture as it travels across the Pacific Ocean before reaching the eastern sections of the Philippines is characterized by widespread cloudiness with rains and showers. The North Pacific Trades gradually replaces the NE Monsoon in March, appears in all seasons and blows dominantly from March to April, giving strong convective activity. The southwest monsoon locally known as "Habagat", it affects the country from July to September, is very warm and humid, occurs when warm  moist air. I want to know more about how they were formed and how they affect one place as they occur. I would like to research on how we can lessen the effect it may brought. I can apply my learning and insights in my daily living for example decide about our outings, I can avoid the time when they are usually experienced to prevent unnecessary things to happen.

El Niño

I learned that El Niño is an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, during which unusually warm ocean conditions appear along the western coast of Ecuador and Peru, causing climatic disturbances of varying severity. The term originally was used to describe the warm southward current that appears in the region every December, but it is now reserved for occurrences that are exceptionally intense and persistent. The accepted definition is a warming or cooling of at least 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) averaged over the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean. Typically, this anomaly happens at irregular intervals of 3–7 years and lasts nine months to two years.^[5] The average period length is 5 years. When this warming occurs for only seven to nine months, it is classified as El Niño conditions; when it occurs for more than that period, it is classified as El Niño episodes. The first signs of an El Niño are: 1.) Rise in surface pressure over the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and Australia. 2.) Fall in air pressure over Tahiti and the rest of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.3.) Trade winds in the south Pacific weaken or head east.4.) Warm air rises near Peru, causing rain in the northern Peruvian deserts.5.) Warm water spreads from the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the east Pacific. It takes the rain with it, causing extensive drought in the western Pacific and rainfall in the normally dry eastern Pacific. I want to know more about the reason why this phenomenon occurs and how it affects one place. I would like to research on how we can lessen the bad effects brought about by this phenomenon. I appreciate the fact that government finds ways on how to prevent El Niño’s effects especially in the field of agriculture, there are some plants that can survive without water over a period of time. I can apply my learning and insights in my daily existence like for example help to find a solution about this certain phenomenon.

Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ)

I learned that Intertropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ) known by sailors as the doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemisphere come together. It appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms that circle the globe near the equator. It is formed by vertical motion largely appearing as convective activity of thunderstorms driven by solar heating, which effectively draw air in; these are the trade winds. The location of the ITCZ varies over time. Over land, it moves back and forth across the equator following the sun’s zenith point. Over the oceans, the seasonal cycle is more subtle, as the convection is constrained by the distribution of ocean temperatures. Because of variation in the location of ITCZ, it drastically affects rainfall in many equatorial nations resulting in wet and dry seasons of the tropics instead of cold and warm seasons of higher latitudes. I want to know more about how ITCZ really affects the season of every place and the factors that cause it to occur. I would like to research on how we can anticipate its eventuality and consequently lessen the bad effects of ITCZ because according to the information I have read, ITCZ can cause severe droughts and flooding. I appreciate the fact that people are now being aware on the effects that ITCZ may brought to us, using technology and media we  can easily detect the weather system and share the information that we have gathered to us. I can apply my learning and insights in my daily living like for example finding ways to prevent/ lessen the damage that can be brought by ITCZ, we can plant trees to prevent severe floods and we can plan our crops to be planted that will fit the weather and can survive severe droughts and floods.