{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"categoryState":{"relatedCategories":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-10-18T16:01:27+00:00"},"categoryId":33763,"data":{"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","image":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"parentCategory":{"categoryId":33756,"title":"Science","slug":"science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"}},"childCategories":[],"description":"Learn to live sustainably, work toward a career in environmental science, and discover some pretty awesome facts about this planet of ours.","relatedArticles":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles?category=33763&offset=0&size=5"},"hasArticle":true,"hasBook":true,"articleCount":90,"bookCount":5},"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"relatedCategoriesLoadedStatus":"success"},"listState":{"list":{"count":10,"total":91,"items":[{"headers":{"creationTime":"2018-09-18T21:51:37+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-10-03T16:18:30+00:00","timestamp":"2022-10-03T18:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"What Is a Hurricane and How to Make a Preparedness Checklist","strippedTitle":"what is a hurricane and how to make a preparedness checklist","slug":"how-ready-are-you-a-hurricane-preparedness-checklist","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn what a hurricane is, how they form, areas prone to storms and how to create and follow a hurricane preparedness checklist from dummies.com, learning made easy.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"A hurricane starts as a tropical storm, and a tropical storm reaches hurricane status when it develops and sustains winds moving at least 74 miles per hour. The storm itself is a <em>cyclone</em> with winds spiraling (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) in a counterclockwise direction. These cyclones, or rotating storms, develop over any ocean but are called <em>hurricanes</em> when they arise over the Atlantic or Northern Pacific. In other areas, they’re called <em>typhoons</em> or <em>tropical cyclones.</em>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >How does a hurricane form, and when is hurricane season?</h2>\r\nHow a hurricane comes together isn’t precisely known, but it requires warm water (at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit) and winds that rise without much change in direction. Those factors combine to create winds that move in a spiral. As a storm grows, it may cover a diameter of more than 600 miles and gust at more than 200 miles per hour — nearly the top speed of a Formula One racecar.\r\n\r\nThe faster the wind, the higher the storm rating and the greater the threat to everyone and everything in its path. Hurricanes are rated by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5, with a Category 1 storm showing the lowest intensity and winds of no more than 95 mph. Those in Category 5 top 156 mph. Hurricanes Maria (Dominica and Puerto Rico) and Irma (Florida) were Category 5 storms that made landfall in 2017. Windows and doors may get smashed from winds at the Category 2 level and above. Hurricane season runs from late May through November.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >What is the center of a hurricane, and other storm anatomy questions</h2>\r\nA hurricane is made up of several parts. If you could look closely at a cross-section of a hurricane, here’s what you’d see, starting from the center of the hurricane:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Eye: </strong>An oasis of calm surrounded by hurtling winds and rain, the <em>eye</em> of a hurricane is about 20 to 40 miles of low winds, light rain, and even clear skies where the air is sinking rather than rising.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Eye wall: </strong>Swirling around the eye, the <em>eye wall</em> is a band of thunderstorms where the rain and wind are strongest. Air is moving rapidly here in the direction of the eye of the storm, rising before it sinks again at the storm’s center.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Feeder bands: </strong>Stretching sometimes hundreds of miles from the center of the storm, <em>feeder bands</em> of a hurricane are bands of heavy rain and wind sometimes include tornadoes.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Outflow:</strong> Hurricanes stretch up much farther than out. Way up at a plane’s cruising altitude, the <em>outflow </em>of a hurricane is a huge swath of clouds swirling in the opposite direction of a hurricane.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Hurricane prone areas</h2>\r\nIf you live in Montana, you’re in the clear. Because hurricanes develop over warm ocean waters and lose strength as they travel over land, they do their worst near the country’s coasts. Here are the counties and areas that are prone and have been most often hit from 1960 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Monroe County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Lafourche Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Carteret County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Dare County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Hyde County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Jefferson Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Palm Beach County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Miami-Dade County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Bernard Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Cameron Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >What is hurricane storm surge?</h2>\r\nHurricanes form over warm oceans, and when they reach land they push huge amounts of ocean water onto the shore with them. This is usually described as a “wall of water” but more specifically is an extremely fast rise in water above sea level. It technically is known as the <em>storm surge.</em>\r\n\r\nDuring Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the storm surge topped 25 feet and was a major factor in that storm’s high death toll. (At least 1,500 people died during Katrina.) A storm surge unleashes the incredible power of wind and water, sweeping up trees, cars, and buildings as it moves. Even standing in just six inches of these powerful waters would be difficult.\r\n\r\nA storm surge may reach land ahead of the storm, and when it does it may flood the roads you’d have used to evacuate. If you live near the shore, get out well in advance of the storm’s landfall. The storm surge may hit a day earlier, and it’s the deadliest element of a hurricane. The elements of a storm surge, like strength and angle of the storm, the shape of the land where it hits, and the shape of the continental shelf at the coastline, combine in unpredictable ways. In other words, no one can predict the intensity of a storm surge. Erring on the side of caution is warranted, especially when you consider that a cubic yard of water weighs almost a ton.\r\n\r\n<strong>The risk of damage from a storm surge is highest in the following states:</strong>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Texas</li>\r\n \t<li>New Jersey</li>\r\n \t<li>New York</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to live on a coast to get hit by the rains and winds a hurricane creates, and if you are in a high-risk area, you need to take steps — <em>before</em> hurricane season hits — to prepare yourself, your family, and your home for the potentially deadly damage.\r\n\r\nA hurricane is nature at its most destructive. These tropical cyclones don’t sneak up: When a hurricane is on its way, you’ll have several days’ warning before it lands, so keep an eye on the news or <a href=\"https://www.fema.gov/\">sign up for hurricane alerts</a>. But sometimes several days isn’t enough. If you act much earlier, you won’t be fighting your neighbors for the last jugs of water on the store shelves.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Create a hurricane preparedness checklist</h2>\r\nYou want to prepare for a hurricane before hurricane season even starts, and a hurricane preparedness checklist can help you make sure you’ve got everything in order. Avoid the mad dash for supplies by <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit\">prepping a hurricane disaster supply kit</a> before you’re likely to need it. You want a large plastic tub or duffle bag so that everything in your kit is in one place and is ready to move. Pack it with the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Water jugs: Traditional wisdom says bring a gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days. If you have room to carry it, err on the side of too much water.</li>\r\n \t<li>Food: Pack up enough nonperishable food for a few days — and a can opener. Think canned tuna and fruit, dry cereal, peanut butter, or granola bars, and focus on high-energy foods rather than salty snacks that will lead you to use too much of your water. Pack foods you like and some comfort foods because you’re going into a high-stress situation. No need to add to your angst.</li>\r\n \t<li>First-aid kit</li>\r\n \t<li>Flashlight and extra batteries</li>\r\n \t<li>Portable radio (you may not have Internet service) and extra batteries</li>\r\n \t<li>Cellphone charger</li>\r\n \t<li>Toilet paper</li>\r\n \t<li>Blankets or sleeping bags</li>\r\n \t<li>Glasses or contacts and contact solution</li>\r\n \t<li>A change of clothes for each family member</li>\r\n \t<li>Distractions like games, toys, and books</li>\r\n \t<li>Pet food</li>\r\n \t<li>Insect repellent</li>\r\n \t<li>Whistle (to signal for help) or flares</li>\r\n \t<li>Waterproof containers or plastic bags</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Other ways to prepare for a hurricane</h2>\r\nPreparation isn’t just what you do when a storm is imminent. Many of the moves that best protect you are the ones you make far ahead of time, like building a hurricane kit. You also want to take these steps:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Have a plan.</strong> And make sure everyone in your household knows it. Choose a point person for everyone to contact and a meeting place if you get separated.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay current on weather conditions. </strong>Keep a close eye on weather updates and emergency guidelines for your area.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Minimize tree-related damage. </strong>Remove any dead wood from your trees; keep them trimmed so that they’re healthy and branches don’t reach your home.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Maintain your car. </strong>Keep your car in good working order; gas up your tank when a storm nears.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Protect your windows. </strong>Plan how you’ll protect your windows with permanent storm shutters or plywood. Long before a storm hits, make sure you have the right number and sizes of 5/8-inch-thick plywood sheets ready to be nailed in.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Reinforce your exterior doors. </strong>They’re more likely to stay put against a hurricane if they’re secured by three hinges per door and a one-inch deadbolt.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Prepare for rain run-off. </strong>Regularly clean gutters and drains so that they’re in the best shape to handle heavy rain.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Get and maintain the right insurance. </strong>Purchase adequate homeowner’s insurance and become well-acquainted with its terms.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab7\" >Arm yourself with information</h2>\r\nSeveral organizations specialize in weather and emergency information. Check out these resources for further details about staying safe in a hurricane:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The <a href=\"https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html\">American Red Cross</a> offers several guides for hurricane preparedness and safety and can tell you how to donate to relief efforts.</li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https://www.fema.gov/\">FEMA </a>keeps you alerted to storm progress, evacuation orders, and shelter locations during a hurricane.</li>\r\n \t<li>The Department of Homeland Security’s <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes\">gov</a> gives you hour-by-hour checklists of preparation and safety guidelines for hurricanes.</li>\r\n \t<li>You can track a storm through the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\">National Hurricane Center</a></li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane\">Weather Underground</a> tracks tropical storm and hurricane activity in tremendous detail and offers historical data as well as general preparedness information.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","description":"A hurricane starts as a tropical storm, and a tropical storm reaches hurricane status when it develops and sustains winds moving at least 74 miles per hour. The storm itself is a <em>cyclone</em> with winds spiraling (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) in a counterclockwise direction. These cyclones, or rotating storms, develop over any ocean but are called <em>hurricanes</em> when they arise over the Atlantic or Northern Pacific. In other areas, they’re called <em>typhoons</em> or <em>tropical cyclones.</em>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >How does a hurricane form, and when is hurricane season?</h2>\r\nHow a hurricane comes together isn’t precisely known, but it requires warm water (at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit) and winds that rise without much change in direction. Those factors combine to create winds that move in a spiral. As a storm grows, it may cover a diameter of more than 600 miles and gust at more than 200 miles per hour — nearly the top speed of a Formula One racecar.\r\n\r\nThe faster the wind, the higher the storm rating and the greater the threat to everyone and everything in its path. Hurricanes are rated by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5, with a Category 1 storm showing the lowest intensity and winds of no more than 95 mph. Those in Category 5 top 156 mph. Hurricanes Maria (Dominica and Puerto Rico) and Irma (Florida) were Category 5 storms that made landfall in 2017. Windows and doors may get smashed from winds at the Category 2 level and above. Hurricane season runs from late May through November.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >What is the center of a hurricane, and other storm anatomy questions</h2>\r\nA hurricane is made up of several parts. If you could look closely at a cross-section of a hurricane, here’s what you’d see, starting from the center of the hurricane:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Eye: </strong>An oasis of calm surrounded by hurtling winds and rain, the <em>eye</em> of a hurricane is about 20 to 40 miles of low winds, light rain, and even clear skies where the air is sinking rather than rising.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Eye wall: </strong>Swirling around the eye, the <em>eye wall</em> is a band of thunderstorms where the rain and wind are strongest. Air is moving rapidly here in the direction of the eye of the storm, rising before it sinks again at the storm’s center.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Feeder bands: </strong>Stretching sometimes hundreds of miles from the center of the storm, <em>feeder bands</em> of a hurricane are bands of heavy rain and wind sometimes include tornadoes.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Outflow:</strong> Hurricanes stretch up much farther than out. Way up at a plane’s cruising altitude, the <em>outflow </em>of a hurricane is a huge swath of clouds swirling in the opposite direction of a hurricane.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Hurricane prone areas</h2>\r\nIf you live in Montana, you’re in the clear. Because hurricanes develop over warm ocean waters and lose strength as they travel over land, they do their worst near the country’s coasts. Here are the counties and areas that are prone and have been most often hit from 1960 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce:\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Monroe County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Lafourche Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Carteret County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Dare County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Hyde County, North Carolina</li>\r\n \t<li>Jefferson Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Palm Beach County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Miami-Dade County, Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Bernard Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Cameron Parish, Louisiana</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >What is hurricane storm surge?</h2>\r\nHurricanes form over warm oceans, and when they reach land they push huge amounts of ocean water onto the shore with them. This is usually described as a “wall of water” but more specifically is an extremely fast rise in water above sea level. It technically is known as the <em>storm surge.</em>\r\n\r\nDuring Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the storm surge topped 25 feet and was a major factor in that storm’s high death toll. (At least 1,500 people died during Katrina.) A storm surge unleashes the incredible power of wind and water, sweeping up trees, cars, and buildings as it moves. Even standing in just six inches of these powerful waters would be difficult.\r\n\r\nA storm surge may reach land ahead of the storm, and when it does it may flood the roads you’d have used to evacuate. If you live near the shore, get out well in advance of the storm’s landfall. The storm surge may hit a day earlier, and it’s the deadliest element of a hurricane. The elements of a storm surge, like strength and angle of the storm, the shape of the land where it hits, and the shape of the continental shelf at the coastline, combine in unpredictable ways. In other words, no one can predict the intensity of a storm surge. Erring on the side of caution is warranted, especially when you consider that a cubic yard of water weighs almost a ton.\r\n\r\n<strong>The risk of damage from a storm surge is highest in the following states:</strong>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>Florida</li>\r\n \t<li>Louisiana</li>\r\n \t<li>Texas</li>\r\n \t<li>New Jersey</li>\r\n \t<li>New York</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n\r\nYou don’t have to live on a coast to get hit by the rains and winds a hurricane creates, and if you are in a high-risk area, you need to take steps — <em>before</em> hurricane season hits — to prepare yourself, your family, and your home for the potentially deadly damage.\r\n\r\nA hurricane is nature at its most destructive. These tropical cyclones don’t sneak up: When a hurricane is on its way, you’ll have several days’ warning before it lands, so keep an eye on the news or <a href=\"https://www.fema.gov/\">sign up for hurricane alerts</a>. But sometimes several days isn’t enough. If you act much earlier, you won’t be fighting your neighbors for the last jugs of water on the store shelves.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >Create a hurricane preparedness checklist</h2>\r\nYou want to prepare for a hurricane before hurricane season even starts, and a hurricane preparedness checklist can help you make sure you’ve got everything in order. Avoid the mad dash for supplies by <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit\">prepping a hurricane disaster supply kit</a> before you’re likely to need it. You want a large plastic tub or duffle bag so that everything in your kit is in one place and is ready to move. Pack it with the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Water jugs: Traditional wisdom says bring a gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days. If you have room to carry it, err on the side of too much water.</li>\r\n \t<li>Food: Pack up enough nonperishable food for a few days — and a can opener. Think canned tuna and fruit, dry cereal, peanut butter, or granola bars, and focus on high-energy foods rather than salty snacks that will lead you to use too much of your water. Pack foods you like and some comfort foods because you’re going into a high-stress situation. No need to add to your angst.</li>\r\n \t<li>First-aid kit</li>\r\n \t<li>Flashlight and extra batteries</li>\r\n \t<li>Portable radio (you may not have Internet service) and extra batteries</li>\r\n \t<li>Cellphone charger</li>\r\n \t<li>Toilet paper</li>\r\n \t<li>Blankets or sleeping bags</li>\r\n \t<li>Glasses or contacts and contact solution</li>\r\n \t<li>A change of clothes for each family member</li>\r\n \t<li>Distractions like games, toys, and books</li>\r\n \t<li>Pet food</li>\r\n \t<li>Insect repellent</li>\r\n \t<li>Whistle (to signal for help) or flares</li>\r\n \t<li>Waterproof containers or plastic bags</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Other ways to prepare for a hurricane</h2>\r\nPreparation isn’t just what you do when a storm is imminent. Many of the moves that best protect you are the ones you make far ahead of time, like building a hurricane kit. You also want to take these steps:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Have a plan.</strong> And make sure everyone in your household knows it. Choose a point person for everyone to contact and a meeting place if you get separated.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay current on weather conditions. </strong>Keep a close eye on weather updates and emergency guidelines for your area.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Minimize tree-related damage. </strong>Remove any dead wood from your trees; keep them trimmed so that they’re healthy and branches don’t reach your home.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Maintain your car. </strong>Keep your car in good working order; gas up your tank when a storm nears.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Protect your windows. </strong>Plan how you’ll protect your windows with permanent storm shutters or plywood. Long before a storm hits, make sure you have the right number and sizes of 5/8-inch-thick plywood sheets ready to be nailed in.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Reinforce your exterior doors. </strong>They’re more likely to stay put against a hurricane if they’re secured by three hinges per door and a one-inch deadbolt.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Prepare for rain run-off. </strong>Regularly clean gutters and drains so that they’re in the best shape to handle heavy rain.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Get and maintain the right insurance. </strong>Purchase adequate homeowner’s insurance and become well-acquainted with its terms.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab7\" >Arm yourself with information</h2>\r\nSeveral organizations specialize in weather and emergency information. Check out these resources for further details about staying safe in a hurricane:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The <a href=\"https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html\">American Red Cross</a> offers several guides for hurricane preparedness and safety and can tell you how to donate to relief efforts.</li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https://www.fema.gov/\">FEMA </a>keeps you alerted to storm progress, evacuation orders, and shelter locations during a hurricane.</li>\r\n \t<li>The Department of Homeland Security’s <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes\">gov</a> gives you hour-by-hour checklists of preparation and safety guidelines for hurricanes.</li>\r\n \t<li>You can track a storm through the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\">National Hurricane Center</a></li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane\">Weather Underground</a> tracks tropical storm and hurricane activity in tremendous detail and offers historical data as well as general preparedness information.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"How does a hurricane form, and when is hurricane season?","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"What is the center of a hurricane, and other storm anatomy questions","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Hurricane prone areas","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"What is hurricane storm surge?","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"Create a hurricane preparedness checklist","target":"#tab5"},{"label":"Other ways to prepare for a hurricane","target":"#tab6"},{"label":"Arm yourself with information","target":"#tab7"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = 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id=\"du-slot-633b235ebe3df\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-10-03T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":255668},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2018-09-18T21:50:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-09-26T14:26:04+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-26T15:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"How to Survive in a Hurricane","strippedTitle":"how to survive in a hurricane","slug":"what-to-do-during-a-hurricane","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how to stay safe and survive a hurricane, with tips on what to do when a storm hits and where to get storm related information.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When a hurricane strikes, making the right moves may be a life-or-death matter. More hurricanes happen during September than any other month, but hurricane season spans late May through November and can push relentless rain and wind up to 100 miles inland. <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/what-to-do-before-a-hurricane-reaches-you-255671/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preparation is important</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>If you’re told to evacuate, do not hesitate. And if you’re caught in a storm, here are tips on how to stay safe during a hurricane:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay inside. </strong>Don’t try to move to another location. You may not be in the ideal spot, but being on the roads when a storm is underway or imminent is too dangerous to risk. Floodwaters come up fast and move quickly. Water doesn’t need to be more than a foot deep to sweep your car away.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Make sure all doors and windows are shut tight. </strong>Close your curtains or blinds to put a buffer between you and the glass, which may break from winds, branches, or flying debris. If you have time, bracing exterior doors with heavy furniture is a good idea.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Don’t tape or crack your windows. </strong>If you haven’t braced your windows with plywood or permanent storm shutters, you’re out of luck at this point. The advice to tape windows is useless, and getting near them as winds pick up is incredibly dangerous. You may also have heard that you should crack your windows to relieve the pressure, and this, too, is bad advice. Letting in the wind and the rain does not help the situation at all. Keep your windows shut, and keep away from them.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay in the lowest level of the building, and find an interior room. </strong>That may be a closet, bathroom, or stairwell. (Stay out of elevators during a storm.) Upper-level and exterior rooms are more vulnerable to damage from high winds; you’re safest where there are the most barriers between you and the storm.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Bring pets inside. </strong></li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Avoid using candles.</strong> High winds and flame make the risk of fire much too great. Reach for a flashlight instead.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shield yourself with whatever you can.</strong> Especially if you don’t have an interior room, putting a table between yourself and a window or door may keep you safe from glass or debris. Cover yourself with a sofa cushion or mattress.</li>\r\n \t<li>You may be instructed to turn off your utilities at some point in anticipation of losing power, so it’s important to monitor for this direction. If you’re without power for either reason, avoid opening your refrigerator so that it keeps food cold as long as possible.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Your home may flood during a hurricane. </strong>If it does, turn off your electricity and move to a higher floor. Floodwater may be contaminated with sewage.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>At some point, the wind and rain are likely to die down. </strong>Don’t be tempted to go outside; this may just be the eye of the storm and a lead-in to more high winds and pounding rain.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","description":"When a hurricane strikes, making the right moves may be a life-or-death matter. More hurricanes happen during September than any other month, but hurricane season spans late May through November and can push relentless rain and wind up to 100 miles inland. <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/what-to-do-before-a-hurricane-reaches-you-255671/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Preparation is important</a>.\r\n\r\n<strong>If you’re told to evacuate, do not hesitate. And if you’re caught in a storm, here are tips on how to stay safe during a hurricane:</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay inside. </strong>Don’t try to move to another location. You may not be in the ideal spot, but being on the roads when a storm is underway or imminent is too dangerous to risk. Floodwaters come up fast and move quickly. Water doesn’t need to be more than a foot deep to sweep your car away.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Make sure all doors and windows are shut tight. </strong>Close your curtains or blinds to put a buffer between you and the glass, which may break from winds, branches, or flying debris. If you have time, bracing exterior doors with heavy furniture is a good idea.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Don’t tape or crack your windows. </strong>If you haven’t braced your windows with plywood or permanent storm shutters, you’re out of luck at this point. The advice to tape windows is useless, and getting near them as winds pick up is incredibly dangerous. You may also have heard that you should crack your windows to relieve the pressure, and this, too, is bad advice. Letting in the wind and the rain does not help the situation at all. Keep your windows shut, and keep away from them.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Stay in the lowest level of the building, and find an interior room. </strong>That may be a closet, bathroom, or stairwell. (Stay out of elevators during a storm.) Upper-level and exterior rooms are more vulnerable to damage from high winds; you’re safest where there are the most barriers between you and the storm.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Bring pets inside. </strong></li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Avoid using candles.</strong> High winds and flame make the risk of fire much too great. Reach for a flashlight instead.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Shield yourself with whatever you can.</strong> Especially if you don’t have an interior room, putting a table between yourself and a window or door may keep you safe from glass or debris. Cover yourself with a sofa cushion or mattress.</li>\r\n \t<li>You may be instructed to turn off your utilities at some point in anticipation of losing power, so it’s important to monitor for this direction. If you’re without power for either reason, avoid opening your refrigerator so that it keeps food cold as long as possible.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Your home may flood during a hurricane. </strong>If it does, turn off your electricity and move to a higher floor. Floodwater may be contaminated with sewage.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>At some point, the wind and rain are likely to die down. </strong>Don’t be tempted to go outside; this may just be the eye of the storm and a lead-in to more high winds and pounding rain.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6331beaed5958\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6331beaed5e8a\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-09-26T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":255665},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2018-09-18T21:53:52+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-09-26T14:23:11+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-26T15:01:02+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"What to Do Before a Hurricane Reaches You","strippedTitle":"what to do before a hurricane reaches you","slug":"what-to-do-before-a-hurricane-reaches-you","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn what to do before a hurricane hits, such as: creating a hurricane evacuation & safety plan, adding hurricane insurance, and packing supplies for kids, pets, and special needs family or loved ones from dummies.com, learning made easy.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Hurricanes are scary, and few people think clearly under that stress. Additionally, a lot of what you need to do to best weather a storm starts well ahead of hurricane season — which runs from late May through November. Start your hurricane safety plan ahead of a storm, while things are calm. The following steps put you and your family in the best position to protect your home and yourselves when a hurricane is on its way.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Have an evacuation plan ready .</li>\r\n \t<li>Determine whether you’re in an evacuation zone and watch for updates; the course of a storm may change.</li>\r\n \t<li>Scout your yard and remove any furniture or other items that may get picked up by the wind and fly through windows or otherwise cause destruction.</li>\r\n \t<li>Put any important documents in a watertight container, along with medications and insurance cards.</li>\r\n \t<li>Charge your phone and any other devices you plan to use or carry with you.</li>\r\n \t<li>Turn your fridge to the coldest setting and put a thermometer in there. You’re likely to lose electricity, and a colder starting temp will keep your food cold longer. The thermometer will let you know whether your milk is a lost cause when the electricity’s back.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Look into hurricane insurance</h2>\r\nIf you live in an area commonly hit by hurricanes, standard homeowner’s insurance isn’t going to provide everything you need. Such a policy addresses structural damage and typically includes a higher deductible whenever that damage arises from a hurricane. And it may be inadequate to cover your costs for rebuilding and the living expenses you pay while you rebuild. Be sure to look closely at coverage for additional living expenses (ALE), which are essential after extensive storm damage that requires you to rent living space while damage is repaired.\r\n\r\nFind out what your policy covers and what it excludes. For example, a standard homeowner’s policy probably doesn't cover damage from sewer backups, which are common after major storms. You actually can buy a specific policy for this instance.\r\n\r\nMuch of the damage from a hurricane comes from flooding, which also requires a separate policy.\r\n\r\nTo get the full value from the policies you do buy, make sure you have a complete inventory of what you own and how much it’s worth. Doing so will make filing claims later on much smoother. Keep this documentation and your policies in a water-safe container that you can easily move with you when you evacuate.\r\n\r\nIf you rent or own an apartment in a co-op, you need your own insurance policies, but you also want to be aware of the coverage your building has in place.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" > Hurricane “watch” or “warning?”</h2>\r\nWhat makes a watch different from a warning? These terms actually have very specific meanings.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>A <strong><em>hurricane</em></strong><em> <strong>watch</strong></em> tells you that hurricane-force winds may appear within 48 hours.</li>\r\n \t<li>If you hear a <strong><em>hurricane warning</em></strong><em>,</em> know that you’re likely to encounter hurricane-force winds within 36 hours. Warnings usually are issued for about 300 miles of coastline at a time. Although satellite technology makes predicting a storm’s approach easy, determining exactly where it will make landfall is still difficult.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">If you are told to evacuate ahead of a hurricane, never hesitate. Leave as soon as possible. But, if whatever reason, you are unable to get out and find yourself caught in the storm, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/what-to-do-during-a-hurricane-255665/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here's how to survive</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Address kids, pets, and special needs during a storm</h2>\r\nMaybe one family member needs to keep insulin at a just-right temperature, or you have a dog who requires eye drops every four hours. Situations like these require more detailed planning.\r\n\r\nBe sure to think through a week’s worth of needs for each family member. That may mean finding a physician and forwarding medical records to a medical center in the city where you’ll wait out the storm at your cousin’s house, or it may require even more careful planning.\r\n\r\nJust make sure that as soon as you know a storm is possible, you carefully consider each family member’s needs for several days. Include the pets, the kids, and the grandma you’ll pick up on the way out of town.\r\n\r\nFor pets and kids, concerns aren’t all that different: Be ready to feed and distract, at a minimum. You need to prepare whatever food, drinks, and toys or special objects will keep the kids and pets as content as possible during the storm.\r\n\r\nMake sure that your pets have been microchipped or that they’re wearing ID tags. It’s all too easy to become separated during the chaos of a storm.\r\n\r\nIf your kids attend school or daycare, make sure that you know the schools’ evacuation plans. Laminate an “in case of emergency” card for each child that includes your contact information and that of a friend or relative who lives elsewhere and may be able to provide a safe place to stay if a storm arises.\r\n\r\nAs much as possible, keep up your routines, which will reassure members of your family who rely on you. Your kids especially look to you for cues about how to act, so do your best to keep calm.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Prepare a storm evacuation plan</h2>\r\nUprooting your life in response to an incoming storm presents a host of challenges, like where you’ll end up and who’s in charge of the pet-food supply. Make the transition as smooth as possible by having an evacuation plan in place. It should cover the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Where you’ll meet if you become separated:</strong> Pick a place close to home and one farther away where you can meet up, and choose a family member to serve as point person. This person is who everyone checks in with if you can’t stay in one place.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Where you’ll stay:</strong> Identify a couple of options ahead of time. Shelters will arise nearby (use <a href=\"http://fema.gov\">FEMA.gov</a> to find them), or maybe a hospitable friend or family member lives outside the evacuation zone. If you have pets, this part of the planning is trickier; most shelters accept only service dogs.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>How you’ll get there:</strong> If you have a car, make sure it’s in good working order and your gas tank is full. If not, plan farther ahead for public transportation (which will shut down as the storm nears) or for someone to drive you.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Supplies:</strong> Get your <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit\"><strong>disaster supplies kit</strong></a> ready well ahead of time. Grab a phone charger for the car, and if you’re traveling far, have snacks and distractions ready — especially if you’re traveling with kids.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Maps:</strong> Downed trees or flooding may require you to change your route at the last moment, so be ready with low-tech navigation that cannot let you down no matter the circumstances.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>IDs and cash:</strong> Appoint a family member to make sure everyone has an ID and a little bit of cash. Don’t let this be the time you’re caught with your wallet in your gym bag.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Updates:</strong> If you don’t want to keep tuned to the weather on the car radio, ask one person to track the storm until you’re safely out of range. Emergency instructions sometimes change as the storm progresses, and you need to have the latest information as you evacuate.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Notice:</strong> Identify a close friend or family member to check in with when you leave and when you have arrived at shelter outside the evacuation zone.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Resolve:</strong> Staying in your home is tempting, even when you’ve been ordered to evacuate. Resolve, as a household, to follow those orders and accept no alternatives. Hurricanes are deadly. Agreeing ahead of time that you’ll evacuate can save valuable time debating the issue later.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >If you’re on the coast, get out well in advance of the storm surge</h2>\r\nWhen a hurricane pushes ocean water ashore, that push is called a <em>storm surg</em>e and is responsible for more deaths and damage than any other part of the storm. Depending on how and where the storm hits, a storm surge — measured in how far above sea level the water rises — can bring almost 30 feet of water to land. This water moves at high speed, bringing tremendous destructive power to everything in its path.\r\n\r\nThese surges are unpredictable, and they often arrive before the storms themselves. When they hit, water levels can rise ten feet in just minutes. Help cannot make it to you under these circumstances, and you are unlikely to be able to drive away from a storm surge.\r\n\r\nIf you’re near a coast and anywhere close to a hurricane’s path, you must evacuate. If you see it coming, it’s too late. The surge can easily go from an inch to several feet before you even make it out of your driveway.\r\n\r\nKeep an axe in your attic so that if for some reason you are trapped in your home during a surge, you have an escape route through the roof.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Travel to hurricane prone areas</h2>\r\nBecause hurricanes happen near coastlines, a lot of popular vacation spots are susceptible. When you’re thinking about planning a vacation, take a look at the storm season before you book tickets and hotel rooms.\r\n\r\nTravel insurance that covers natural disasters can help, and you should check with hotels and airlines about policies regarding refunds or rescheduling in the event of a storm.\r\n\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","description":"Hurricanes are scary, and few people think clearly under that stress. Additionally, a lot of what you need to do to best weather a storm starts well ahead of hurricane season — which runs from late May through November. Start your hurricane safety plan ahead of a storm, while things are calm. The following steps put you and your family in the best position to protect your home and yourselves when a hurricane is on its way.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Have an evacuation plan ready .</li>\r\n \t<li>Determine whether you’re in an evacuation zone and watch for updates; the course of a storm may change.</li>\r\n \t<li>Scout your yard and remove any furniture or other items that may get picked up by the wind and fly through windows or otherwise cause destruction.</li>\r\n \t<li>Put any important documents in a watertight container, along with medications and insurance cards.</li>\r\n \t<li>Charge your phone and any other devices you plan to use or carry with you.</li>\r\n \t<li>Turn your fridge to the coldest setting and put a thermometer in there. You’re likely to lose electricity, and a colder starting temp will keep your food cold longer. The thermometer will let you know whether your milk is a lost cause when the electricity’s back.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Look into hurricane insurance</h2>\r\nIf you live in an area commonly hit by hurricanes, standard homeowner’s insurance isn’t going to provide everything you need. Such a policy addresses structural damage and typically includes a higher deductible whenever that damage arises from a hurricane. And it may be inadequate to cover your costs for rebuilding and the living expenses you pay while you rebuild. Be sure to look closely at coverage for additional living expenses (ALE), which are essential after extensive storm damage that requires you to rent living space while damage is repaired.\r\n\r\nFind out what your policy covers and what it excludes. For example, a standard homeowner’s policy probably doesn't cover damage from sewer backups, which are common after major storms. You actually can buy a specific policy for this instance.\r\n\r\nMuch of the damage from a hurricane comes from flooding, which also requires a separate policy.\r\n\r\nTo get the full value from the policies you do buy, make sure you have a complete inventory of what you own and how much it’s worth. Doing so will make filing claims later on much smoother. Keep this documentation and your policies in a water-safe container that you can easily move with you when you evacuate.\r\n\r\nIf you rent or own an apartment in a co-op, you need your own insurance policies, but you also want to be aware of the coverage your building has in place.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" > Hurricane “watch” or “warning?”</h2>\r\nWhat makes a watch different from a warning? These terms actually have very specific meanings.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>A <strong><em>hurricane</em></strong><em> <strong>watch</strong></em> tells you that hurricane-force winds may appear within 48 hours.</li>\r\n \t<li>If you hear a <strong><em>hurricane warning</em></strong><em>,</em> know that you’re likely to encounter hurricane-force winds within 36 hours. Warnings usually are issued for about 300 miles of coastline at a time. Although satellite technology makes predicting a storm’s approach easy, determining exactly where it will make landfall is still difficult.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">If you are told to evacuate ahead of a hurricane, never hesitate. Leave as soon as possible. But, if whatever reason, you are unable to get out and find yourself caught in the storm, <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/article/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/what-to-do-during-a-hurricane-255665/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here's how to survive</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Address kids, pets, and special needs during a storm</h2>\r\nMaybe one family member needs to keep insulin at a just-right temperature, or you have a dog who requires eye drops every four hours. Situations like these require more detailed planning.\r\n\r\nBe sure to think through a week’s worth of needs for each family member. That may mean finding a physician and forwarding medical records to a medical center in the city where you’ll wait out the storm at your cousin’s house, or it may require even more careful planning.\r\n\r\nJust make sure that as soon as you know a storm is possible, you carefully consider each family member’s needs for several days. Include the pets, the kids, and the grandma you’ll pick up on the way out of town.\r\n\r\nFor pets and kids, concerns aren’t all that different: Be ready to feed and distract, at a minimum. You need to prepare whatever food, drinks, and toys or special objects will keep the kids and pets as content as possible during the storm.\r\n\r\nMake sure that your pets have been microchipped or that they’re wearing ID tags. It’s all too easy to become separated during the chaos of a storm.\r\n\r\nIf your kids attend school or daycare, make sure that you know the schools’ evacuation plans. Laminate an “in case of emergency” card for each child that includes your contact information and that of a friend or relative who lives elsewhere and may be able to provide a safe place to stay if a storm arises.\r\n\r\nAs much as possible, keep up your routines, which will reassure members of your family who rely on you. Your kids especially look to you for cues about how to act, so do your best to keep calm.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Prepare a storm evacuation plan</h2>\r\nUprooting your life in response to an incoming storm presents a host of challenges, like where you’ll end up and who’s in charge of the pet-food supply. Make the transition as smooth as possible by having an evacuation plan in place. It should cover the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Where you’ll meet if you become separated:</strong> Pick a place close to home and one farther away where you can meet up, and choose a family member to serve as point person. This person is who everyone checks in with if you can’t stay in one place.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Where you’ll stay:</strong> Identify a couple of options ahead of time. Shelters will arise nearby (use <a href=\"http://fema.gov\">FEMA.gov</a> to find them), or maybe a hospitable friend or family member lives outside the evacuation zone. If you have pets, this part of the planning is trickier; most shelters accept only service dogs.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>How you’ll get there:</strong> If you have a car, make sure it’s in good working order and your gas tank is full. If not, plan farther ahead for public transportation (which will shut down as the storm nears) or for someone to drive you.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Supplies:</strong> Get your <a href=\"https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit\"><strong>disaster supplies kit</strong></a> ready well ahead of time. Grab a phone charger for the car, and if you’re traveling far, have snacks and distractions ready — especially if you’re traveling with kids.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Maps:</strong> Downed trees or flooding may require you to change your route at the last moment, so be ready with low-tech navigation that cannot let you down no matter the circumstances.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>IDs and cash:</strong> Appoint a family member to make sure everyone has an ID and a little bit of cash. Don’t let this be the time you’re caught with your wallet in your gym bag.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Updates:</strong> If you don’t want to keep tuned to the weather on the car radio, ask one person to track the storm until you’re safely out of range. Emergency instructions sometimes change as the storm progresses, and you need to have the latest information as you evacuate.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Notice:</strong> Identify a close friend or family member to check in with when you leave and when you have arrived at shelter outside the evacuation zone.</li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Resolve:</strong> Staying in your home is tempting, even when you’ve been ordered to evacuate. Resolve, as a household, to follow those orders and accept no alternatives. Hurricanes are deadly. Agreeing ahead of time that you’ll evacuate can save valuable time debating the issue later.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >If you’re on the coast, get out well in advance of the storm surge</h2>\r\nWhen a hurricane pushes ocean water ashore, that push is called a <em>storm surg</em>e and is responsible for more deaths and damage than any other part of the storm. Depending on how and where the storm hits, a storm surge — measured in how far above sea level the water rises — can bring almost 30 feet of water to land. This water moves at high speed, bringing tremendous destructive power to everything in its path.\r\n\r\nThese surges are unpredictable, and they often arrive before the storms themselves. When they hit, water levels can rise ten feet in just minutes. Help cannot make it to you under these circumstances, and you are unlikely to be able to drive away from a storm surge.\r\n\r\nIf you’re near a coast and anywhere close to a hurricane’s path, you must evacuate. If you see it coming, it’s too late. The surge can easily go from an inch to several feet before you even make it out of your driveway.\r\n\r\nKeep an axe in your attic so that if for some reason you are trapped in your home during a surge, you have an escape route through the roof.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Travel to hurricane prone areas</h2>\r\nBecause hurricanes happen near coastlines, a lot of popular vacation spots are susceptible. When you’re thinking about planning a vacation, take a look at the storm season before you book tickets and hotel rooms.\r\n\r\nTravel insurance that covers natural disasters can help, and you should check with hotels and airlines about policies regarding refunds or rescheduling in the event of a storm.\r\n\r\nFor official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of <a href=\"http://fema.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FEMA,</a> <a href=\"http://dhs.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Homeland Security</a>, and the <a href=\"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Hurricane Center</a> for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Look into hurricane insurance","target":"#tab1"},{"label":" Hurricane “watch” or “warning?”","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Address kids, pets, and special needs during a storm","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Prepare a storm evacuation plan","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"If you’re on the coast, get out well in advance of the storm surge","target":"#tab5"},{"label":"Travel to hurricane prone areas","target":"#tab6"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = 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Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","strippedTitle":"find new ways to go green this earth day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Celebrate Earth Day with Dummies by connecting with nature, learning about the natural environment, or picking up a new eco-friendly habit.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Celebrate everything that is beautiful about our planet by reconnecting with nature, learning more about the natural environment, or picking up a new eco-friendly habit or two.\r\n\r\nApril 22 is Earth Day — a world-wide celebration commemorating everything that makes our blue-marble planet unique and beautiful, and all the things we can do to protect it.\r\n\r\nStarting all the way back during the environmental movement of the 1970s, Earth Day has grown to become a powerful motivator for individuals and companies alike to become more environmentally aware and responsible. From local volunteer cleanups to nation-wide conservation initiatives, this year is no different, with numerous events happening at both the grassroots and state levels.\r\n\r\nWant to join in on the celebration? Find Earth Day events in your area, by visiting <a href=\"https://www.earthday.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https://www.earthday.org/</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292124\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292124 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog-1.jpg\" alt=\"Earth Globe Painting\" width=\"630\" height=\"355\" /> © Elena Mozhvilo / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The First Earth Day</h2>\r\nDid you know... In response to public outcry to the Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide \"teach-in\" about environmental issues to take place on April 22, 1970. More than 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 public schools, and 20 million citizens participated.\r\n\r\nAside from volunteering or donating to an eco-friendly cause, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Earth Day — here are just a few.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292127\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292127 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog1.jpg\" alt=\"Meat-Free Sausages\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" /> Vegan alternatives to meat-based products are a great first step towards a more plant-based diet.<br />©LikeMeat / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Plant a healthy diet</h2>\r\nYou’ve probably already heard about the massive environmental impact that animal farming has on the planet. It is second only to fossil fuels in terms of contributing to human-made greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of climate change. And, while the jump from a traditional omnivorous diet to a full-blown vegan one is not something most people can accomplish overnight, cutting down on red meat is a great first step.\r\n\r\nSomething as simple as committing to meat-free Mondays can have a significant influence on your health and the environment. Get started by taking a crack at one or two of our favorite plant-based recipes found in <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/body-mind-spirit/physical-health-well-being/diet-nutrition/plant-based-diet/plant-based-diet-cookbook-for-dummies-289784\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292128\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292128 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" /> Gardening is an excellent way to teach kids environmental responsibility.<br />© Surya Prakash / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Channel your inner green thumb</h2>\r\nYou don’t need to become an expert horticulturist to help save our planet. Simply buying local or better yet, growing some of your own food can help reduce your carbon footprint — not to mention, teach you valuable transferable skills like diligence and patience. Plus, there’s just something so satisfying about working with your hands, especially if you’re used to working in front of a screen all day.\r\n\r\nYou can start by growing some common herbs like rosemary or thyme. They are fairly resilient and, depending on where you live, can even be grown indoors. If you lack the space to garden, look for farmers markets in your area or, better yet, join a community garden, these gardens are becoming increasingly popular, even in the most urban of cities.\r\n\r\nDon't worry if you have no previous gardening knowledge — beginner-friendly resources, such as <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/gardening-basics-for-dummies-3rd-edition-282222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gardening Basics For Dummies</a>, will help you get there.\r\n\r\nYou can also find a farmers market near you using the <a href=\"https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets\">USDA National Farmers Market Directory</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292129\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292129 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"504\" /> © Viki Mohamad / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Stay informed</h2>\r\nIt’s no secret that our planet is in grave danger as a result of climate change. But, contrary to what you may feel after reading all the increasingly worrisome headlines, you must remember — there’s still hope. And, while the biggest contributors of climate change, like animal farming and fossil fuel burning, may seem so far removed from your daily life, you’d be surprised how much of a difference you as an individual can make.\r\n\r\nStaying informed is perhaps the easiest way to help environmental causes. As an informed citizen, you have the power to choose more wisely what products to buy, what companies and practices to support, and even who you vote for in the next election.\r\n\r\nDon't know where to start? Check out <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/climate-change-for-dummies-290945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Climate Change For Dummies</a> to help you navigate this complex topic.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292130\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292130 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"361\" /> © Noah Buscher / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >More ways to greenify your life</h2>\r\nThere’s always something more we can do to reduce our environmental impact on the planet, but that should not discourage us from taking action — after all, every little bit counts. One small change in your daily routine today will lead you to more and more lasting changes in the future.\r\n\r\nIf you’re ready to explore even more ways to go green, check out <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/sustainability/general-sustainability/green-living-for-dummies-281576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Green Living For Dummies</a> for a more comprehensive guide to sustainable living.\r\n\r\nFrom the team at Dummies, we wish all our fellow earthlings a happy and green Earth Day.","description":"Celebrate everything that is beautiful about our planet by reconnecting with nature, learning more about the natural environment, or picking up a new eco-friendly habit or two.\r\n\r\nApril 22 is Earth Day — a world-wide celebration commemorating everything that makes our blue-marble planet unique and beautiful, and all the things we can do to protect it.\r\n\r\nStarting all the way back during the environmental movement of the 1970s, Earth Day has grown to become a powerful motivator for individuals and companies alike to become more environmentally aware and responsible. From local volunteer cleanups to nation-wide conservation initiatives, this year is no different, with numerous events happening at both the grassroots and state levels.\r\n\r\nWant to join in on the celebration? Find Earth Day events in your area, by visiting <a href=\"https://www.earthday.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https://www.earthday.org/</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292124\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292124 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog-1.jpg\" alt=\"Earth Globe Painting\" width=\"630\" height=\"355\" /> © Elena Mozhvilo / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >The First Earth Day</h2>\r\nDid you know... In response to public outcry to the Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide \"teach-in\" about environmental issues to take place on April 22, 1970. More than 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 public schools, and 20 million citizens participated.\r\n\r\nAside from volunteering or donating to an eco-friendly cause, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Earth Day — here are just a few.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292127\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292127 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog1.jpg\" alt=\"Meat-Free Sausages\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" /> Vegan alternatives to meat-based products are a great first step towards a more plant-based diet.<br />©LikeMeat / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Plant a healthy diet</h2>\r\nYou’ve probably already heard about the massive environmental impact that animal farming has on the planet. It is second only to fossil fuels in terms of contributing to human-made greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of climate change. And, while the jump from a traditional omnivorous diet to a full-blown vegan one is not something most people can accomplish overnight, cutting down on red meat is a great first step.\r\n\r\nSomething as simple as committing to meat-free Mondays can have a significant influence on your health and the environment. Get started by taking a crack at one or two of our favorite plant-based recipes found in <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/body-mind-spirit/physical-health-well-being/diet-nutrition/plant-based-diet/plant-based-diet-cookbook-for-dummies-289784\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292128\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292128 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" /> Gardening is an excellent way to teach kids environmental responsibility.<br />© Surya Prakash / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" >Channel your inner green thumb</h2>\r\nYou don’t need to become an expert horticulturist to help save our planet. Simply buying local or better yet, growing some of your own food can help reduce your carbon footprint — not to mention, teach you valuable transferable skills like diligence and patience. Plus, there’s just something so satisfying about working with your hands, especially if you’re used to working in front of a screen all day.\r\n\r\nYou can start by growing some common herbs like rosemary or thyme. They are fairly resilient and, depending on where you live, can even be grown indoors. If you lack the space to garden, look for farmers markets in your area or, better yet, join a community garden, these gardens are becoming increasingly popular, even in the most urban of cities.\r\n\r\nDon't worry if you have no previous gardening knowledge — beginner-friendly resources, such as <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/gardening/general-gardening/gardening-basics-for-dummies-3rd-edition-282222\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gardening Basics For Dummies</a>, will help you get there.\r\n\r\nYou can also find a farmers market near you using the <a href=\"https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets\">USDA National Farmers Market Directory</a>.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292129\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292129 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"504\" /> © Viki Mohamad / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Stay informed</h2>\r\nIt’s no secret that our planet is in grave danger as a result of climate change. But, contrary to what you may feel after reading all the increasingly worrisome headlines, you must remember — there’s still hope. And, while the biggest contributors of climate change, like animal farming and fossil fuel burning, may seem so far removed from your daily life, you’d be surprised how much of a difference you as an individual can make.\r\n\r\nStaying informed is perhaps the easiest way to help environmental causes. As an informed citizen, you have the power to choose more wisely what products to buy, what companies and practices to support, and even who you vote for in the next election.\r\n\r\nDon't know where to start? Check out <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/academics-the-arts/science/environmental-science/climate-change-for-dummies-290945\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Climate Change For Dummies</a> to help you navigate this complex topic.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292130\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"wp-image-292130 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/earthdayblog4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"361\" /> © Noah Buscher / Unsplash.com[/caption]\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >More ways to greenify your life</h2>\r\nThere’s always something more we can do to reduce our environmental impact on the planet, but that should not discourage us from taking action — after all, every little bit counts. One small change in your daily routine today will lead you to more and more lasting changes in the future.\r\n\r\nIf you’re ready to explore even more ways to go green, check out <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/book/home-auto-hobbies/garden-green-living/sustainability/general-sustainability/green-living-for-dummies-281576\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Green Living For Dummies</a> for a more comprehensive guide to sustainable living.\r\n\r\nFrom the team at Dummies, we wish all our fellow earthlings a happy and green Earth Day.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8947,"name":"The Experts at Dummies","slug":"the-experts-at-dummies","description":"The Experts at Dummies are smart, friendly people who make learning easy by taking a not-so-serious approach to serious stuff.","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8947"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"The First Earth Day","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Plant a healthy diet","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Channel your inner green thumb","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Stay informed","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"More ways to greenify your life","target":"#tab5"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}},{"articleId":284282,"title":"Bivalves: Parts One and Two","slug":"bivalves-parts-one-and-two","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284282"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":290945,"slug":"climate-change-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119703105","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119703107-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119703105-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Climate Change For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B><b data-author-id=\"34718\">John Kidder</b></b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9735\">Elizabeth May</b></b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34718,"name":"John Kidder","slug":"john-kidder","description":" <p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34718"}},{"authorId":9735,"name":"Elizabeth May","slug":"elizabeth-may","description":" <p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9735"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119703105&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b4d44d5f\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119703105&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b4d455d1\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Six months","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-18T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":292097},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T16:10:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-08-11T17:50:06+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:54+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"10 Ways to Live Sustainably","strippedTitle":"10 ways to live sustainably","slug":"ten-ways-to-live-sustainably","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the details of how to help the environment immediately, including cutting back on energy and water use, reducing waste, and recycling.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Environmental science is all about finding ways to live more sustainably, which means using resources today in a way that maintains their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t mean living without luxuries but rather being aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste.\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Reduce household energy use.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Energy conservation is itself a source of energy. Here are several simple ways to reduce your household energy use:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Install energy-efficient appliances.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a programmable thermostat that lowers or raises the temperature when you’re not home.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set your thermostat lower than usual in the winter and bundle up.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Open windows to allow a breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use an electric teakettle rather than a stovetop kettle to boil water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Eat locally.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You can stroll through aisles stocked with fruits, vegetables, and other products from all over the world any time of year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your corner supermarket.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dispose with disposables.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Previous generations didn’t dream of single-use razors, forks, cups, bags, and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object and then throw that object away after you use it.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Many of the environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of, such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When you make a purchase, consider the item’s life expectancy: How long can the item be used? Will it have more than one use? When you’re done with it, will it end up in the trash? Start investing in reusable products for the items you most often throw away.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plant seeds.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Try growing your own food. Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; a few square feet on a patio, along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Recycle.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn’t offer recycling pickup, either find a drop-off location or request the curbside service. Buying products labeled <i>post-consumer</i> lets companies know that recycling is the way to go!</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">For other items, such as CFLs, batteries, cellphones, and electronics, find an appropriate recycler. Be sure to ask electronics recyclers where these materials go for recycling and avoid companies that ship electronic waste overseas for unregulated “recycling” and salvage operations. <a href=\"http://www.goodwill.org\">Goodwill Industries International</a> is one place that accepts electronics for responsible recycling.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Resell and donate items.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a secondhand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a nonprofit resale organization (such as Goodwill) or charity organization (such as the Salvation Army or American Cancer Society) that will redistribute them to those in need.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Drink from the tap.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Dependence on bottled water has added more than a million tons of plastic to the waste stream every year. One reason people rely on bottled water is because they believe it’s safer and better tasting than tap water. But most municipal water supplies in the U.S. provide safe, clean, fresh water (and many bottled waters are just bottled from city water supplies anyway).</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you don’t like the flavor of your tap water, consider the one-time investment in a filtration system. If you like the convenience of bottled water, purchase refillable bottles and keep one in your fridge, one in your car, and one at the office. Encourage your employer to install filters and offer glasses or reusable bottles at work, too.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Save water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use a full flush (for solid waste) or half-flush (for liquid waste). Newer clothes washers can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each load.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Smaller changes, such as switching to water-saving shower heads and adding aerators to your sink faucets, are also effective ways to significantly reduce household water use.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">To conserve water outdoors, use landscaping adapted to your local environment. When buying plants, look for drought-tolerant species and varieties and be sure to plant them in proper soil and sun conditions to reduce their need for excess watering. Set up sprinkler systems so they don’t water the sidewalk, the driveway, and other paved, impermeable surfaces.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Rely less on your car.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Investigate mass transit options in your town or city, such as a bus system, a light rail train system, or carpool and vanpool services for commuters. When traveling close to home, walk or ride your bike.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Purchase fair-trade products.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When you purchase items that are imported from all over the world — particularly coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, chocolate, and fruit — look for the <i>fair-trade</i> certification. This designation tells you that these items were grown using sustainable methods of agriculture and that local people are receiving fair prices for the goods they produce.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Items that don’t have the fair-trade certification may have been produced unsustainably and may be the product of exploitative labor practices that don’t benefit the local people.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","description":"Environmental science is all about finding ways to live more sustainably, which means using resources today in a way that maintains their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t mean living without luxuries but rather being aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste.\r\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Reduce household energy use.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Energy conservation is itself a source of energy. Here are several simple ways to reduce your household energy use:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Install energy-efficient appliances.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use a programmable thermostat that lowers or raises the temperature when you’re not home.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set your thermostat lower than usual in the winter and bundle up.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Open windows to allow a breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Use an electric teakettle rather than a stovetop kettle to boil water.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Eat locally.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You can stroll through aisles stocked with fruits, vegetables, and other products from all over the world any time of year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your corner supermarket.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Dispose with disposables.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Previous generations didn’t dream of single-use razors, forks, cups, bags, and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object and then throw that object away after you use it.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Many of the environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of, such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When you make a purchase, consider the item’s life expectancy: How long can the item be used? Will it have more than one use? When you’re done with it, will it end up in the trash? Start investing in reusable products for the items you most often throw away.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plant seeds.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Try growing your own food. Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; a few square feet on a patio, along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Recycle.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn’t offer recycling pickup, either find a drop-off location or request the curbside service. Buying products labeled <i>post-consumer</i> lets companies know that recycling is the way to go!</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">For other items, such as CFLs, batteries, cellphones, and electronics, find an appropriate recycler. Be sure to ask electronics recyclers where these materials go for recycling and avoid companies that ship electronic waste overseas for unregulated “recycling” and salvage operations. <a href=\"http://www.goodwill.org\">Goodwill Industries International</a> is one place that accepts electronics for responsible recycling.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Resell and donate items.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a secondhand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a nonprofit resale organization (such as Goodwill) or charity organization (such as the Salvation Army or American Cancer Society) that will redistribute them to those in need.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Drink from the tap.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Dependence on bottled water has added more than a million tons of plastic to the waste stream every year. One reason people rely on bottled water is because they believe it’s safer and better tasting than tap water. But most municipal water supplies in the U.S. provide safe, clean, fresh water (and many bottled waters are just bottled from city water supplies anyway).</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you don’t like the flavor of your tap water, consider the one-time investment in a filtration system. If you like the convenience of bottled water, purchase refillable bottles and keep one in your fridge, one in your car, and one at the office. Encourage your employer to install filters and offer glasses or reusable bottles at work, too.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Save water.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use a full flush (for solid waste) or half-flush (for liquid waste). Newer clothes washers can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each load.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Smaller changes, such as switching to water-saving shower heads and adding aerators to your sink faucets, are also effective ways to significantly reduce household water use.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">To conserve water outdoors, use landscaping adapted to your local environment. When buying plants, look for drought-tolerant species and varieties and be sure to plant them in proper soil and sun conditions to reduce their need for excess watering. Set up sprinkler systems so they don’t water the sidewalk, the driveway, and other paved, impermeable surfaces.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Rely less on your car.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Investigate mass transit options in your town or city, such as a bus system, a light rail train system, or carpool and vanpool services for commuters. When traveling close to home, walk or ride your bike.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Purchase fair-trade products.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">When you purchase items that are imported from all over the world — particularly coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, chocolate, and fruit — look for the <i>fair-trade</i> certification. This designation tells you that these items were grown using sustainable methods of agriculture and that local people are receiving fair prices for the goods they produce.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Items that don’t have the fair-trade certification may have been produced unsustainably and may be the product of exploitative labor practices that don’t benefit the local people.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9804,"name":"Alecia M. Spooner","slug":"alecia-m-spooner","description":" <p><b>Alecia M. Spooner</b> has been teaching at the college level for more than 15 years. She currently teaches at Seattle Central College, where she is Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Alecia teaches earth science courses that are accessible and engaging, while stressing scientific literacy and critical thinking. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9804"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":208293,"title":"Environmental Science For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"environmental-science-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208293"}},{"articleId":175597,"title":"Long-Term Impact of Key Environmental Legislation in the U.S.","slug":"long-term-impact-of-key-environmental-legislation-in-the-u-s","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175597"}},{"articleId":175590,"title":"How to Characterize a Population of Living Things","slug":"how-to-characterize-a-population-of-living-things","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175590"}},{"articleId":175589,"title":"What Defines an Ecosystem?","slug":"what-defines-an-ecosystem","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175589"}},{"articleId":173106,"title":"How Biological Communities Work Together","slug":"how-biological-communities-work-together","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/173106"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282177,"slug":"environmental-science-for-dummies","isbn":"9781118167144","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118167147-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/environmental-science-for-dummies-cover-9781118167144-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Environmental Science For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<b data-author-id=\"9804\">Alecia M. Spooner</b> teaches Earth and Environmental Sciences at a community college and enjoys developing active-learning science curriculums for adults. Alecia is also the author of <i>Geology For Dummies</i>.","authors":[{"authorId":9804,"name":"Alecia M. Spooner","slug":"alecia-m-spooner","description":" <p><b>Alecia M. Spooner</b> has been teaching at the college level for more than 15 years. She currently teaches at Seattle Central College, where she is Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Alecia teaches earth science courses that are accessible and engaging, while stressing scientific literacy and critical thinking. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9804"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118167144&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b4a269df\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118167144&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b4a274d6\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Solve","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-08-11T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":172757},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:50:30+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-18T13:42:07+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Tornadoes: Really Twisted Winds","strippedTitle":"tornadoes: really twisted winds","slug":"tornadoes-really-twisted-winds","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn the interesting and even life-saving facts about one of nature's most dangerous phenomena, tornadoes. Know what to do in a warning.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Nothing the atmosphere dishes out is more destructive. They can sweep up anything that moves. They lift buildings from their foundations. They make a swirling cloud of violently flying debris. They are very dangerous to all living things, not only because of the sheer power of their winds, but the missiles of debris they create.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292069\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-292069\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/Tornado.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"419\" /> ©Minerva Studio / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nWind measuring instruments are destroyed by tornadoes, although according to reliable estimates, their winds can exceed 250 miles per hour. Flying at those speeds, pieces of straw can penetrate wood. According to most scientists, the top wind speeds in the strongest tornadoes are about 280 miles per hour.\r\n\r\nIn an average year, 1,200 tornadoes are reported in the United States, far more than any other place in the world.\r\n\r\nOn average, tornadoes cause 80 deaths in the U.S. every year and 1,500 injuries, although averages don't mean very much when it comes to these storms. In 1998, for example, 130 people died in tornadoes in the U.S., including 42 who were killed in an outbreak in central Florida and 34 who died in a single tornado in Birmingham, Alabama.\r\n\r\nMost human casualties are people in mobile homes and vehicles. The deadliest single tornado struck on March 18, 1925. In three and a half hours, it traveled 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.\r\n\r\nMost tornadoes, nearly 90 percent, travel from the southwest to the northeast, although some follow quick-changing zigzag paths. Weak tornadoes, or decaying tornadoes, often have a thin ropelike appearance. The most violent tornadoes have a broad, dark, funnel-shape that extends from a dark wall cloud of a large thunderstorm.\r\n\r\nThere have been reports of some tornadoes that practically stand still, hovering over a single field.\r\n\r\nOthers crawl along at 5 miles per hour. But the average tornado travels 35 miles per hour, and some have been clocked at more than 70 miles per hour. A tornado in 1917 traveled a record 293 miles. The average width of a tornado's path is about 140 yards, although some have been reported to be more than a mile wide.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Most tornadoes occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., although they have been known to strike at all hours of the day or night. They usually last only about 15 minutes, although, some have been known to stay on the ground for hours.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Tornado Alley</h2>\r\nThe size of the place known as Tornado Alley expands through spring and summer as heating from the sun grows warmer and the flow of warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico spreads farther north. An area that includes central Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas is the hard core of the season, but before it is over, as Figure 1 illustrates, Tornado Alley extends north to Nebraska and Iowa.\r\n<div class=\"figure\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/0-7645-5243-0_0914.jpg\" border=\"0\" /></div>\r\n<span class=\"caption\"><b>Figure 1:</b> Tornado Alley.</span>\r\n\r\nIt shrinks and swells over time, but there is only one Tornado Alley. Nowhere else in the world sees weather conditions in a combination that is so perfect for these storms. Here's what makes the storms of Tornado Alley so bad:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Beginning in spring and continuing through summer, low-level winds from the south and southeast bring a plentiful supply of warm tropical moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico into the Great Plains.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>From down off of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains or from out of the deserts of northern Mexico come other flows of very dry air that travel about 3,000 feet above the ground.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>From 10,000 feet, the prevailing westerly winds, sometimes accompanied by a powerful jet stream, race overhead, carrying cool air from the Pacific Ocean.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSometimes, the winds form a convective cap lid of warm air over the Plains that the rising air is eventually able to break through and explode upward into the sky. These are the ingredients for the most severe thunderstorms and most powerful twisters — sharp differences in temperatures at different levels, big contrasts in dryness and moisture, and layers of powerful winds that are blowing from different directions at different speeds.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Forecasting</h2>\r\nWeather forecasters in Tornado Alley have a pretty good idea of the menu of conditions that are necessary to make severe thunderstorms, and they're pretty good at being able to forecast that severe thunderstorms are on the way. They can say that large hailstones and strong winds are likely, and a tornado is a possibility during the next several hours or the next day or two.\r\n\r\nBut they can't forecast a tornado. The question of which of the conditions on the menu for severe thunderstorms actually causes tornadoes to form in these storms remains one of the most difficult mysteries of weather science. A severe thunderstorm that causes a tornado can look exactly like a severe thunderstorm that does not cause a tornado. Weather researchers have been working on the problem for years, chasing tornadoes all over the countryside, and still it is one of those things that is not well understood.\r\n\r\nThe presence in the area of supercell thunderstorms really puts pressure on forecasters in local weather service field offices. The national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, is on the phone giving advice, but the buck stops in the local office. The local forecasters know that a lethal tornado could come spinning down out of the dark cloud at any moment, but they can't be sure until they see it show up on a Doppler radar screen or a funnel is actually observed.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" ><strong>Warning the public</strong></h2>\r\nBillions of dollars have been spent in the last several years on research and computer modeling, radars and satellite technologies, and high-speed communications. Progress has been made. On average, when tornado warnings were issued in 1994, communities had six minutes to react. By 1998, the average lead time for warnings had stretched to 12 minutes.\r\n\r\nTelevision meteorologists and other media outlets play vital roles in such weather emergencies, continuously broadcasting the locations and predicted paths of tornadoes. Many lives are being saved by the increased public awareness and the lengthening time of advance warning that is available. In fact, the longer lead-time has reached the point where people are rethinking the idea of public shelters for tornadoes. As minutes are added to advance warnings, now it may be possible for people in harm's way to rush to a shelter before a tornado hits.\r\n\r\nMore than 15,000 severe storm and tornado watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service every year. Most of the time, they are accurate. Sometimes, they are missed. Occasionally there are false alarms. The successes are taken for granted and often overlooked in the details of a tornado disaster. The failures and the false alarms seem to be remembered forever. Perfectly reasonable people who will forgive you for missing the rain on their picnic now have a different attitude. When it comes to tornadoes, they want perfection.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Lives and limbs</h2>\r\nWhat are the odds of a tornado crossing your path? Even in Tornado Alley, the odds are against such an unhappy occasion. When it happens, of course, it's a disaster — but still, the odds are high against it.\r\n\r\nPeople think about tornadoes in tornado country the way people in the Southeast think about hurricanes and people in California think about earthquakes. It's part of the background of daily life that you really don't give very much thought to, because chances are, it's not going to happen.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">The five-dollar word for this is complacency — a self-satisfied unawareness of danger — and somebody is always getting on their high horse about it. The truth is, day in and day out, most people have other things to worry about that just seem more real. And it's just human nature to be optimistic, and to think things are going to turn out for the best. But it leaves you open for some terrible surprises once in a while, which is kind of sad, when you think about it. Government people in the disaster business and American Red Cross relief workers who deal with victims of these storms see this sense of surprise on people's faces all the time.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >A tornado watch or a warning?</h2>\r\nDon't confuse a <em>watch</em> with a <em>warning</em>. There is a big difference. Here is what they are about:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Tornado watch:</b> When National Weather Service forecasters issue a tornado watch, they are making a forecast that tornadoes are possible in your area. It's time to remain alert to signs of approaching storms and to make sure that you are prepared for an emergency.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Tornado warning:</b> This is an emergency message. A tornado has been sighted in your area, or weather radar indicates one is present. Now is the time to get to safety, to put your emergency plan into action.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Tornado dos — and don'ts!</h2>\r\nThe National Weather Service and the American Red Cross have put together these basic tips about tornado safety:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Seek shelter immediately, preferably underground in a basement or in an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Stay away from windows.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Get out of your car or your mobile home and seek shelter in a sturdy structure. In the open, lie flat in a ditch or depression.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Protect your head from flying debris.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Do not seek shelter under a bridge over overpass. The idea that these are safe shelters is just plain wrong.</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Nothing the atmosphere dishes out is more destructive. They can sweep up anything that moves. They lift buildings from their foundations. They make a swirling cloud of violently flying debris. They are very dangerous to all living things, not only because of the sheer power of their winds, but the missiles of debris they create.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_292069\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"630\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-292069\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/Tornado.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"419\" /> ©Minerva Studio / Adobe Stock[/caption]\r\n\r\nWind measuring instruments are destroyed by tornadoes, although according to reliable estimates, their winds can exceed 250 miles per hour. Flying at those speeds, pieces of straw can penetrate wood. According to most scientists, the top wind speeds in the strongest tornadoes are about 280 miles per hour.\r\n\r\nIn an average year, 1,200 tornadoes are reported in the United States, far more than any other place in the world.\r\n\r\nOn average, tornadoes cause 80 deaths in the U.S. every year and 1,500 injuries, although averages don't mean very much when it comes to these storms. In 1998, for example, 130 people died in tornadoes in the U.S., including 42 who were killed in an outbreak in central Florida and 34 who died in a single tornado in Birmingham, Alabama.\r\n\r\nMost human casualties are people in mobile homes and vehicles. The deadliest single tornado struck on March 18, 1925. In three and a half hours, it traveled 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.\r\n\r\nMost tornadoes, nearly 90 percent, travel from the southwest to the northeast, although some follow quick-changing zigzag paths. Weak tornadoes, or decaying tornadoes, often have a thin ropelike appearance. The most violent tornadoes have a broad, dark, funnel-shape that extends from a dark wall cloud of a large thunderstorm.\r\n\r\nThere have been reports of some tornadoes that practically stand still, hovering over a single field.\r\n\r\nOthers crawl along at 5 miles per hour. But the average tornado travels 35 miles per hour, and some have been clocked at more than 70 miles per hour. A tornado in 1917 traveled a record 293 miles. The average width of a tornado's path is about 140 yards, although some have been reported to be more than a mile wide.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Most tornadoes occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., although they have been known to strike at all hours of the day or night. They usually last only about 15 minutes, although, some have been known to stay on the ground for hours.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab1\" >Tornado Alley</h2>\r\nThe size of the place known as Tornado Alley expands through spring and summer as heating from the sun grows warmer and the flow of warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico spreads farther north. An area that includes central Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas is the hard core of the season, but before it is over, as Figure 1 illustrates, Tornado Alley extends north to Nebraska and Iowa.\r\n<div class=\"figure\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/0-7645-5243-0_0914.jpg\" border=\"0\" /></div>\r\n<span class=\"caption\"><b>Figure 1:</b> Tornado Alley.</span>\r\n\r\nIt shrinks and swells over time, but there is only one Tornado Alley. Nowhere else in the world sees weather conditions in a combination that is so perfect for these storms. Here's what makes the storms of Tornado Alley so bad:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Beginning in spring and continuing through summer, low-level winds from the south and southeast bring a plentiful supply of warm tropical moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico into the Great Plains.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>From down off of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains or from out of the deserts of northern Mexico come other flows of very dry air that travel about 3,000 feet above the ground.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>From 10,000 feet, the prevailing westerly winds, sometimes accompanied by a powerful jet stream, race overhead, carrying cool air from the Pacific Ocean.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nSometimes, the winds form a convective cap lid of warm air over the Plains that the rising air is eventually able to break through and explode upward into the sky. These are the ingredients for the most severe thunderstorms and most powerful twisters — sharp differences in temperatures at different levels, big contrasts in dryness and moisture, and layers of powerful winds that are blowing from different directions at different speeds.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab2\" >Forecasting</h2>\r\nWeather forecasters in Tornado Alley have a pretty good idea of the menu of conditions that are necessary to make severe thunderstorms, and they're pretty good at being able to forecast that severe thunderstorms are on the way. They can say that large hailstones and strong winds are likely, and a tornado is a possibility during the next several hours or the next day or two.\r\n\r\nBut they can't forecast a tornado. The question of which of the conditions on the menu for severe thunderstorms actually causes tornadoes to form in these storms remains one of the most difficult mysteries of weather science. A severe thunderstorm that causes a tornado can look exactly like a severe thunderstorm that does not cause a tornado. Weather researchers have been working on the problem for years, chasing tornadoes all over the countryside, and still it is one of those things that is not well understood.\r\n\r\nThe presence in the area of supercell thunderstorms really puts pressure on forecasters in local weather service field offices. The national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, is on the phone giving advice, but the buck stops in the local office. The local forecasters know that a lethal tornado could come spinning down out of the dark cloud at any moment, but they can't be sure until they see it show up on a Doppler radar screen or a funnel is actually observed.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab3\" ><strong>Warning the public</strong></h2>\r\nBillions of dollars have been spent in the last several years on research and computer modeling, radars and satellite technologies, and high-speed communications. Progress has been made. On average, when tornado warnings were issued in 1994, communities had six minutes to react. By 1998, the average lead time for warnings had stretched to 12 minutes.\r\n\r\nTelevision meteorologists and other media outlets play vital roles in such weather emergencies, continuously broadcasting the locations and predicted paths of tornadoes. Many lives are being saved by the increased public awareness and the lengthening time of advance warning that is available. In fact, the longer lead-time has reached the point where people are rethinking the idea of public shelters for tornadoes. As minutes are added to advance warnings, now it may be possible for people in harm's way to rush to a shelter before a tornado hits.\r\n\r\nMore than 15,000 severe storm and tornado watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service every year. Most of the time, they are accurate. Sometimes, they are missed. Occasionally there are false alarms. The successes are taken for granted and often overlooked in the details of a tornado disaster. The failures and the false alarms seem to be remembered forever. Perfectly reasonable people who will forgive you for missing the rain on their picnic now have a different attitude. When it comes to tornadoes, they want perfection.\r\n<h2 id=\"tab4\" >Lives and limbs</h2>\r\nWhat are the odds of a tornado crossing your path? Even in Tornado Alley, the odds are against such an unhappy occasion. When it happens, of course, it's a disaster — but still, the odds are high against it.\r\n\r\nPeople think about tornadoes in tornado country the way people in the Southeast think about hurricanes and people in California think about earthquakes. It's part of the background of daily life that you really don't give very much thought to, because chances are, it's not going to happen.\r\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">The five-dollar word for this is complacency — a self-satisfied unawareness of danger — and somebody is always getting on their high horse about it. The truth is, day in and day out, most people have other things to worry about that just seem more real. And it's just human nature to be optimistic, and to think things are going to turn out for the best. But it leaves you open for some terrible surprises once in a while, which is kind of sad, when you think about it. Government people in the disaster business and American Red Cross relief workers who deal with victims of these storms see this sense of surprise on people's faces all the time.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"tab5\" >A tornado watch or a warning?</h2>\r\nDon't confuse a <em>watch</em> with a <em>warning</em>. There is a big difference. Here is what they are about:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Tornado watch:</b> When National Weather Service forecasters issue a tornado watch, they are making a forecast that tornadoes are possible in your area. It's time to remain alert to signs of approaching storms and to make sure that you are prepared for an emergency.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><b>Tornado warning:</b> This is an emergency message. A tornado has been sighted in your area, or weather radar indicates one is present. Now is the time to get to safety, to put your emergency plan into action.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2 id=\"tab6\" >Tornado dos — and don'ts!</h2>\r\nThe National Weather Service and the American Red Cross have put together these basic tips about tornado safety:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Seek shelter immediately, preferably underground in a basement or in an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Stay away from windows.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Get out of your car or your mobile home and seek shelter in a sturdy structure. In the open, lie flat in a ditch or depression.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Protect your head from flying debris.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Do not seek shelter under a bridge over overpass. The idea that these are safe shelters is just plain wrong.</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[{"label":"Tornado Alley","target":"#tab1"},{"label":"Forecasting","target":"#tab2"},{"label":"Warning the public","target":"#tab3"},{"label":"Lives and limbs","target":"#tab4"},{"label":"A tornado watch or a warning?","target":"#tab5"},{"label":"Tornado dos — and don'ts!","target":"#tab6"}],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth 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Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b3a1f276\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b3a1fca6\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-14T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":200531},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2021-02-12T23:20:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-12T20:18:57+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:36+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Oceans For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"oceans for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"oceans-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Explore the ocean world—physical characteristics, ecosystems and inhabitants, influence on climate, and sustainable resources.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The ocean is big — really, really big — both as a body of water and as a topic. It encompasses physical characteristics, its ecosystems and inhabitants, its influence on climate and weather, the sustainable use of its resources, and much more. This Cheat Sheet touches on a few key topics.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_277582\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-277582\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/oceans-reef.jpg\" alt=\"coral reef scene\" width=\"556\" height=\"434\" /> © Jag_cz / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"The ocean is big — really, really big — both as a body of water and as a topic. It encompasses physical characteristics, its ecosystems and inhabitants, its influence on climate and weather, the sustainable use of its resources, and much more. This Cheat Sheet touches on a few key topics.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_277582\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-277582\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/oceans-reef.jpg\" alt=\"coral reef scene\" width=\"556\" height=\"434\" /> © Jag_cz / Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282724,"slug":"oceans-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119654438","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119654432/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119654432/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119654432-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119654432/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119654432/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/oceans-for-dummies-cover-9781119654438-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Oceans For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b>Ashlan and <b data-author-id=\"34395\">Philippe Cousteau</b></b> are world-renowned environmental advocates, filmmakers, and authors with a passion for adventure. Philippe is the founder of EarthEcho International, a leading global voice for ocean conservation. Ashlan is a journalist and storyteller who has explored all seven continents.</p> <p><b>Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau</b> are world-renowned environmental advocates, filmmakers, and authors with a passion for adventure. Philippe is the founder of EarthEcho International, a leading global voice for ocean conservation. Ashlan is a journalist and storyteller who has explored all seven continents.</p> <p><b>Kenneth W. Boyd</b> has 30 years of experience in accounting and financial services. He is a four&#45;time Dummies book author, a blogger, and a video host on accounting and finance topics.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":34395,"name":"Philippe Cousteau","slug":"philippe-cousteau","description":" <p><b>Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau</b> are world-renowned environmental advocates, filmmakers, and authors with a passion for adventure. Philippe is the founder of EarthEcho International, a leading global voice for ocean conservation. Ashlan is a journalist and storyteller who has explored all seven continents.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34395"}},{"authorId":34394,"name":"Ashlan Cousteau","slug":"ashlan-cousteau","description":" <p><b>Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau</b> are world-renowned environmental advocates, filmmakers, and authors with a passion for adventure. Philippe is the founder of EarthEcho International, a leading global voice for ocean conservation. Ashlan is a journalist and storyteller who has explored all seven continents.</p> ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34394"}},{"authorId":8993,"name":"Joseph Kraynak","slug":"joseph-kraynak","description":" <p><b>Kenneth W. Boyd</b> has 30 years of experience in accounting and financial services. He is a four&#45;time Dummies book author, a blogger, and a video host on accounting and finance topics. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8993"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119654438&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b38c3d1d\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119654438&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b38c47c2\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Ocean ecosystems","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>An <a href=\"https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/education/science/biology/what-defines-an-ecosystem/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>ecosystem</em> </a>is like a neighborhood in which a variety of lifeforms adapt to the environment and to one another, developing complex interdependencies. If something changes, even a tiny change, it affects everything else. The ocean has a variety of ecosystems, including the following:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tidal pools: </strong>These puddle- to pond-sized ecosystems form when seawater fills depressions near shore. They support a variety of marine life, including algae, crabs, barnacles, mussels, sea stars, urchins, snails, anenomes, and even small fish.</li>\n<li><strong>Sandy beaches: </strong>While they may seem barren at times, sandy beaches are home to sand dollars, crabs, shellfish, worms, seals, and a variety of birds, not to mention the many fish and other organisms that hang out in the shallow waters near shore. Sandy beaches also provide vital nesting areas for sea turtles and many birds.</li>\n<li><strong>Estuaries: </strong>These areas where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salty seawater, can host a variety of ecosystems, including mudflats, marshes, mangroves, and oyster and coral reefs, each of which is home to a unique community of marine organisms.</li>\n<li><strong>Mudflats: </strong>These flat, stinky, muddy areas, uncovered at low tide, are a favorite spot for mussels and clams that filter-feed on the abundance of plankton, along with birds that feed on the abundance of mussels and clams.</li>\n<li><strong>Salt marshes: </strong>These swampy areas are composed of salt-tolerant plants and have a variety of residents including crabs, snails, mussels, and worms, along with fish and shrimp, which visit to feed and breed. They also attract birds who come mostly to feed.</li>\n<li><strong>Mangrove forests: </strong>Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs with roots that reach down from above the waterline into the substrate below, providing sheltered breeding areas for many species. Mangrove forests support a variety of marine life, including crabs, shrimp, oysters, sponges, fish, and manatees, along with reptiles and small mammals. They also play a vital role in protecting coastlines from storm surges.</li>\n<li><strong>Kelp forests: </strong>Kelp is a large plant-like algae that grows from the seafloor up to about 50 meters (160 feet) tall, providing food and shelter for large, diverse communities of marine species, including urchins, otters (which eat urchins), sea horses, baby sea turtles, crabs, sea cucumbers, and more.</li>\n<li><strong>The Sargasso Sea: </strong>This unique ecosystem consists of a massive mat of floating algae called <em>sargassum</em>, which is concentrated in one area of the Atlantic Ocean by four currents that surround it. It provides a habitat for shrimp, crab, fish, and many other marine species that have adapted specifically to it. It also serves as a vital spawning site for certain eels and fish.</li>\n<li><strong>Seagrass meadows: </strong>Seagrass is a salt-tolerant plant that grows and reproduces underwater. In addition to providing food and shelter for a variety of small marine species, these meadows are popular grazing sites for manatees, dugong, and sea turtles.</li>\n<li><strong>Coral reefs: </strong>Formed by polyps that build their homes out of calcium carbonate, coral reefs are some of the richest and most colorful ecosystems in the sea. They feed and shelter nearly every type of creature, from sponges and octopi to sharks, rays, and dolphins.</li>\n<li><strong>Oyster reefs: </strong>Formed by colonies of oysters, these reefs provide habitat and safe nurseries for diverse communities of marine life, including commercially valuable fish like anchovies.</li>\n<li><strong>Polar ecosystems: </strong>The Arctic (north) and Antarctica (south) are cold, icy areas with significant seasonal variations in temperature and sunlight. They’re home to: krill (tiny shrimp-like creatures); cold-water fish; a variety of birds, including penguins (Antarctica only); and a variety of mammals, including seals, walruses (Arctic only), whales, and polar bears (Arctic only).</li>\n<li><strong>Open ocean: </strong>Far from shore, the light-rich surface waters of the open ocean are home to photosynthetic plankton (<em>phytoplankton</em>) and zooplankton that anchor a complex food web. These plankton are eaten by fish, rays, squid, whales, and many other marine animals. Numerous predators, including sharks, dolphins, and seabirds, feed on those smaller marine animals and on other predators.</li>\n<li><strong>Deep ocean: </strong>At the bottom of the ocean are several extreme ecosystems that develop around <em>hydrothermal vents</em> (extremely hot and rich in chemicals), <em>cold seeps</em> (where hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other chemicals flow up through the seafloor), and whale carcasses (micro-ecosystems called <em>whale falls</em>). Except for whale falls, these ecosystems are possible thanks to <em>chemotrophs</em> (bacteria that feed on chemicals) — in contrast to <em>phototrophs</em>, such as algae, which use the sun’s energy to create food mostly from carbon dioxide and water.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Marine organisms","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Scientists have a formal system called a <em>taxonomy</em> for classifying all lifeforms on Earth. Organisms are classified first by domain, then kingdom, then into progressively smaller groups — phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The organism is then named using its genus and species, typically resulting in something that only someone with a PhD in Biology or Latin can pronounce; for example, the scientific name for the southern blue-ringed octopus is <em>Hapalochlaena maculosa. </em>Talk about a mouth full. Plus, these groupings can change and species can be scientifically re-assigned as scientists learn more and discover new things.</p>\n<p>In <em>Oceans For Dummies,</em> we simplify the groupings and use the Latin and Greek names only when necessary (they are their proper names of course) or when they have a nice ring to them (aka, it’s easy to pronounce). Accordingly, we classify marine organisms into the following groups:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Microbes:</strong> Mostly single-celled organisms that you can’t see without a microscope, such as bacteria, microscopic algae, and some fungi.</li>\n<li><strong>Plants:</strong> In this group, we include bona fide plants, along with other <em>photosynthetic</em> organisms, meaning they use the sun to create food from water and carbon dioxide (impressive trick) but aren’t technically plants. Seagrass, algae, seaweed (kelp), and mangroves are all plants or plant-ish.</li>\n<li><strong>Simple invertebrates: </strong>Anything without a backbone falls into this group, including sponges, jellyfish, sea anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, and a variety of slimy worms.</li>\n<li><strong>Mollusks: </strong>Anything with a hard shell and a soft body, though the hard shell may be optional. This group includes snails, sea slugs, bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops), octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.</li>\n<li><strong>Crustaceans: </strong>Think of a baguette (crusty on the outside, soft on the inside). Now, add legs, eyes, a mouth, and antennae, and you have something that looks like a crustacean. In this group are crabs, lobsters, shrimp, krill, and barnacles.</li>\n<li><strong>Fish: </strong>This one’s easy — anything with scales, gills, a tail, fins, and usually a swim bladder (to help it stay afloat without having to swim around like crazy all the time).</li>\n<li><strong>Reptiles: </strong>These guys and gals are cold-blooded, air-breathers with scales. The ocean is home to only a few reptiles — sea turtles (of course), sea snakes, saltwater crocodiles, and marine iguanas.</li>\n<li><strong>Birds: </strong>Another easy one — warm-blooded air breathers with two legs, feathers, and a beak. Flying is optional — case in point: penguins.</li>\n<li><strong>Mammals: </strong>Wow, another easy one — warm-blooded air breathers with a layer of insulation consisting of hair or fat (blubber). Members of this group include whales, dolphins (a type of whale), seals, sea lions, walruses, otters, manatee, and polar bears.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Ashlan and Philippe Cousteau’s 10 favorite sea creatures","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<ul>\n<li><strong>Nudibranchs (sea slugs): </strong>The name “sea slug” doesn’t do these creatures justice. They’re some of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean, they collect toxins from what they eat (for self-defense), they come in every color combination imaginable, and they’re some of the most graceful swimmers on earth. What more could you want in a slug?</li>\n<li><strong>Mantis shrimp: </strong>Imagine a creature that looks like a praying mantis in front and a lobster tail in back. Its front legs are like those of a praying mantis, but they end in spears (for impaling their prey) or hammers (for clubbing crabs and other prey into submission or bashing open oyster shells). Their punch can be faster than a speeding bullet and they have eyes that can move independently and see from the ultraviolet end of the spectrum through to the infrared. Oh, and the ones with the hammer hands are nicknamed “thumb splitters,” which is just cool.</li>\n<li><strong>Cone snail: </strong>A poison-tipped-harpoon-toting snail that swallows fish whole and comes in a gorgeous shell. What could be more awesome?</li>\n<li><strong>Dumbo octopus: </strong>Elephants can’t fly with their ears as depicted in Disney’s 1941 film <em>Dumbo</em>, but the dumbo octopus looks sort of like an elephant head (without the trunk) but with tentacles and prominent ear-like fins that enable it to “fly” through the water. And they’re gosh darn cute.</li>\n<li><strong>Giant pacific octopus: </strong>This largest of octopi grows up to nine meters (about 30 feet) long and weighs up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Like other octopi, the giant Pacific octopus is smart and talented — it can crawl and even walk on the seafloor, swim, find its way through a maze, pry open shellfish, twist the lid off a jar, recognize people’s faces, change its skin color <em>and texture</em> in seconds to camouflage itself, and more. (Full disclosure: we, especially Philippe, haven’t met an octopus we didn’t absolutely adore.)</li>\n<li><strong>Parrot fish: </strong>Numbering about 90 species, these very colorful tropical fish spend most of their day eating algae off coral reefs, which helps the corals stay healthy. Their teeth are cemented together to form a beak-like structure for chipping away at the rock-hard coral and grinding it up to get at the algae. In the process, they ingest a lot of coral, which comes out the other end as white sand poop. What’s not to love about a fish that cleans coral and contributes to the white sand beaches we love so much . . . with their fishy poopies.</li>\n<li><strong>Grouper: </strong>This diverse group accounts for more than 100 species of stocky fish with big mouths that can change color to blend in with their surroundings. They’re all born and mature as females but can change sex later (freaky but useful if your dating pool doesn’t leave you with a lot of choices). Speaking of size, the goliath grouper can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) long and weigh up to 455 kilograms (1,000 pounds). Their size makes them unafraid of people, and they’re highly intelligent and possibly the friendliest of fish — kind of like the Labradors of the sea.</li>\n<li><strong>Great white shark: </strong>If you get into a fight in the ocean, you want one of these bad boys (or girls) on your side — the world’s largest predatory fish. The great white grows up to 6 meters (20 feet) long, weighs in at up to 2,200 kilograms (about 5,000 pounds), is shaped like a muscle-bound missile, and is equipped with powerful jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth (up to 3,000 of them). And yet, in spite of all that size and power, Great Whites move like graceful ballerinas under water.</li>\n<li><strong>Female Anglerfish: </strong>Living in the dark, deep ocean, these ladies of the night have a dorsal fin shaped like a fishing pole that protrudes from the center of their head and ends in a glow-in-the-dark lure that just happens to dangle down in front of their huge mouthful of teeth. And they can swallow fish twice their size.</li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">What about the guys? This is where it gets really freaky. They’re usually much smaller than the females, and when a male finds one of these lovely ladies, he attaches himself to her, as a permanent parasite. After a while, he loses his eyes and all his organs except his testes, physically fusing his body with hers — a case in which moving in together is taken way too far. What’s more is that females can do this body meld thing with multiple mates at the same time (and why not?).</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sea otter: </strong>Cuteness incarnate, that’s why we love sea otters . . . that and the fact that they eat lots of sea urchins, keeping urchin populations in check so that they don’t devour all the kelp forests. Sea otters use tools (rocks) to open their food, and even keep their favorite rock in a little fur pouch near their foot. They wrap themselves and their babies in kelp so they don’t float away while napping (so smart). They’re the furriest animals on Earth, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch (compare that with the average human who has 100,000 hairs on their <em>whole head!)</em> And come on, look at those adorable faces!</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"10 biggest threats to ocean health","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The ocean that cares for us in so many ways is under serious threat from human activities. Here are the ten biggest threats to ocean health:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Greenhouse gasses: </strong>Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere, resulting in global warming and an increasing ocean temperature overall. In turn, global warming is impacting weather, precipitation, and currents; melting polar ice, and destroying entire ecosystems that have evolved over millions of years, such as coral reefs. Many of the ecosystems at risk are vital to feeding a growing human population.</li>\n<li><strong>Acidification: </strong>The ocean absorbs a huge portion of the excess carbon dioxide emitted by the burning of fossil fuels, but the chemical processes that occur when carbon dioxide reacts with water make the water more acidic. Ocean acidification is especially hard on corals, many forms of plankton, and mollusks that live in calcium carbonate homes, because the acidity dissolves the calcium they need to form their protective coverings. Ocean Acidification is eating away at many of the fundamental building blocks of ocean life, including planktonic organisms, which form the foundation of entire ocean food webs, and coral reefs which are the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth.</li>\n<li><strong>Overfishing: </strong>Harvesting too many fish and using methods that harm ecosystems and other wildlife is resulting in a situation in which the ocean is being fished out of fish. Right now, 90 percent of all fish stocks around the globe are fished to capacity or are over fished. Fortunately, over time, effective fisheries management and more marine protected areas can help to restore fish populations while increasing harvests.</li>\n<li><strong>Oil and gas drilling and pipelines: </strong>Drilling through the seafloor and laying gas and oil pipelines at the bottom of the ocean . . . hmmm, what could possibly go wrong? Mistakes happen. Equipment fails. Pipes leak. Risks rise considerably when countries like Venezuela experience political and economic instability that leads to poor maintenance and improper use of equipment. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to see than countless fishermen out of work, fish floating dead in a sea of oil, or birds and mammals choking on it.</li>\n<li><strong>Polluted runoff: </strong>Water carrying pesticides, chemical fertilizers, human and animal waste, and other harmful substances eventually makes its way from land to the ocean, killing wildlife directly or fueling harmful algae blooms that result in the death of large populations of fish and other marine creatures and pose a huge threat to human health.</li>\n<li><strong>Plastics: </strong>Plastics are synthetic products that <em>never</em> decompose They just break up into smaller pieces that pollute the water and kill wildlife. More than 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year, and at least 8 million of it ends up in the ocean. Marine animals get tangled up in it, or they eat it, sometimes starving to death on full stomachs (full of plastic, that is).</li>\n<li><strong>Inadequate protection: </strong>Only about 5 percent of the ocean is protected from abuse by being designated and managed as no-take Marine Protected Area. These areas provide a safe haven for marine life to live and reproduce, and the benefits extend far beyond the borders of the protected area.</li>\n<li><strong>Coastal development: </strong>Who doesn’t dream about living on a beach? About 37 percent of the world’s population live in coastal communities, and these same areas are hotspots for tourism. The problem is that coastal development can destroy the natural barriers, such as mangrove forests, saltwater marshes, and coral and oyster reefs, that protect the inland areas where humans tend to live. In addition, a great deal of wildlife depends on coastal habitats for their survival.</li>\n<li><strong>Shipping: </strong>Ninety percent of all goods shipped between countries crosses the ocean. Add to that cruise liners, personal boats and other watercraft, and you have a boatload of traffic. It negatively impacts ocean health in the form of oil spills, polluted ballast water (sometimes carrying invasive species), anchor damage, ship groundings and the massive amount of noise (sound pollution) created by all the vessels, which is devastating to animals like whales that use sound to communicate.</li>\n<li><strong>Aquaculture: </strong>Farming the ocean or raising aquatic animals in tanks near coastal areas can be a great solution to overfishing, as long as it’s done properly. However, when done improperly, it can be a source of: pollution; increased parasite infections in nearby wild fish populations; massive destruction of coastal areas like seagrass beds, mangroves, and more; the source of genetically engineered <em>frankenfish</em> that escape and throw the natural balance out of whack; and overfishing — caused when wild fish are used to make food for the farmed fish.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"6 win-win opportunities in the blue economy","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The concept of a Blue Economy encourages the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development, job creation, and improving people’s lives, while at the same time preserving the ocean for future generations. In other words, it involves engaging in profitable activities that benefit the ocean — win-win opportunities. Here are six Blue Economy opportunities:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fish less, catch more. </strong>This statement may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. Ninety percent of the world’s fish stocks are overfished or fished to capacity. <em>Overfished</em> means not enough fish are left to rebuild the population. So, if we stopped overfishing (fished less) more fish would be left to rebuild fish stocks and <em>voila!</em> more fish to catch. Setting aside no-take marine reserves, reducing bycatch, and limiting fish catch are all ways to increase the amount of life in the ocean.</li>\n<li><strong>Harvest ocean energy. </strong>By harnessing the power of wind, waves, tides, and other sources of energy in and near the ocean, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, mitigating the effects of acidification and climate change on the ocean. In addition, this green energy could eliminate the need for offshore gas and oil drilling, which would mean fewer oil spills and related pollution. Yay!</li>\n<li><strong>Farm the ocean to increase its productivity. </strong>The ocean can support far more life than it currently does, enabling us to harvest more food from the ocean while reducing our dependence on marine wildlife for food. Done sustainably, this has a tremendous potential to help people and the planet.</li>\n<li><strong>Restore wetlands and mangrove forests to sequester carbon. </strong>Extracting carbon from the atmosphere and storing it (like forever) is complicated and expensive. Mangrove forests and wetlands can do the job for the cost of restoring them, while providing habitat for marine life to flourish.</li>\n<li><strong>Preserve ecosystems to profit from ecotourism. </strong>Instead of extracting resources from the ocean to sell, promote the beauty of these ecosystems through ecotourism without having to destroy them.</li>\n<li><strong>Restore natural coastal barriers to reduce costly property damage. </strong>A great deal of property damage inflicted by storms is due to coastal development, which has destroyed the natural coastal barriers such as reefs, wetlands, and mangrove forests. Restoring these barriers would significantly reduce the amount of damage and the costs of repairs related to coastal storms and flooding.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-12T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":277581},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:52:00+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-07T20:49:15+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:35+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Environmental Science For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"environmental science for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"environmental-science-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about the study of environmental science, including important legislation, ecosystems, sustainable principles, and more.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Environmental science is a field of study focused on Earth’s environment and the resources it provides to every living organism, including humans. Environmental scientists focus on studying the environment and everything in it and finding sustainable solutions to environmental issues. In particular, this means meeting the needs of human beings (and other organisms) today without damaging the environment, depleting resources, or compromising the earth’s ability to meet the resource needs of the future.\r\n\r\nA sustainable solution to an environmental problem must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and culturally acceptable.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet summarizes some key aspects of what environmental scientists study.","description":"Environmental science is a field of study focused on Earth’s environment and the resources it provides to every living organism, including humans. Environmental scientists focus on studying the environment and everything in it and finding sustainable solutions to environmental issues. In particular, this means meeting the needs of human beings (and other organisms) today without damaging the environment, depleting resources, or compromising the earth’s ability to meet the resource needs of the future.\r\n\r\nA sustainable solution to an environmental problem must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and culturally acceptable.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet summarizes some key aspects of what environmental scientists study.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9804,"name":"Alecia M. Spooner","slug":"alecia-m-spooner","description":" <p><b>Alecia M. Spooner</b> has been teaching at the college level for more than 15 years. She currently teaches at Seattle Central College, where she is Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Alecia teaches earth science courses that are accessible and engaging, while stressing scientific literacy and critical thinking. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9804"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":175597,"title":"Long-Term Impact of Key Environmental Legislation in the U.S.","slug":"long-term-impact-of-key-environmental-legislation-in-the-u-s","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175597"}},{"articleId":175589,"title":"What Defines an Ecosystem?","slug":"what-defines-an-ecosystem","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175589"}},{"articleId":175590,"title":"How to Characterize a Population of Living Things","slug":"how-to-characterize-a-population-of-living-things","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175590"}},{"articleId":173106,"title":"How Biological Communities Work Together","slug":"how-biological-communities-work-together","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/173106"}},{"articleId":173105,"title":"Patterns of Ocean Circulation","slug":"patterns-of-ocean-circulation","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/173105"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282177,"slug":"environmental-science-for-dummies","isbn":"9781118167144","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118167147-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118167147/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/environmental-science-for-dummies-cover-9781118167144-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Environmental Science For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"<b data-author-id=\"9804\">Alecia M. Spooner</b> teaches Earth and Environmental Sciences at a community college and enjoys developing active-learning science curriculums for adults. Alecia is also the author of <i>Geology For Dummies</i>.","authors":[{"authorId":9804,"name":"Alecia M. Spooner","slug":"alecia-m-spooner","description":" <p><b>Alecia M. Spooner</b> has been teaching at the college level for more than 15 years. She currently teaches at Seattle Central College, where she is Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Alecia teaches earth science courses that are accessible and engaging, while stressing scientific literacy and critical thinking. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9804"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118167144&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b375add0\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118167144&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b375b913\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":175597,"title":"Long-Term Impact of Key Environmental Legislation in the U.S.","slug":"long-term-impact-of-key-environmental-legislation-in-the-u-s","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175597"}},{"articleId":175590,"title":"How to Characterize a Population of Living Things","slug":"how-to-characterize-a-population-of-living-things","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175590"}},{"articleId":175589,"title":"What Defines an Ecosystem?","slug":"what-defines-an-ecosystem","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175589"}},{"articleId":175588,"title":"Working toward a More Sustainable Environment","slug":"working-toward-a-more-sustainable-environment__trashed","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/175588"}}],"content":[{"title":"Long-term impact of key environmental legislation in the U.S.","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The peak of environmental legislation in the U.S. occurred in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1970s in particular, Congress passed a number of important laws to repair environmental damage and protect the environment from further pollution. In fact, the relatively clean and healthy environment you enjoy today is a result of the laws passed during this period (some of which have been updated multiple times since their initial passing).</p>\n<p>Here are a few of the laws that continue to have a big impact today:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Clean Air Act of 1970:</b> This law was the first to regulate air pollution on a national scale and set goals for improving air quality across the U.S. It was updated in 1990 to address ozone depletion and acid rain, in addition to overall air quality.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Clean Water Act of 1972:</b> Before this law, no rules mandated what type or amount of waste could be dumped into public waters. The Clean Water Act is viewed as one of the most successful pieces of environmental legislation because it led to dramatic improvement in water quality across the U.S.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Endangered Species Act of 1973:</b> The Endangered Species Act set up a process for legally recognizing and seeking to conserve plant and animal species in danger of extinction. As a result of this law, many species have recovered from near extinction, including the bald eagle, whooping crane, and grey wolf.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974:</b> This piece of legislation was aimed at improving public health by protecting public drinking water supplies from contamination. Amendments in 1986 and 1996 shifted the focus away from treating polluted water to protecting drinking water from pollution at its source.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>National Forest Management Act of 1976:</b> This law required that national forest resources be managed through an approach that considers how timber removal affects the ecosystem as a whole. One effect of this act is that forest management plans also evaluate non-timber land use (such as recreation).</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to characterize a population of living things","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Scientists who study living organisms examine them from different perspectives of complexity. The simplest level is the <i>individual.</i> Each individual is a member of a population. Each <i>population</i> is made up of a group of individuals of the same species that occupy the same environment and interact with each other.</p>\n<p>Many different populations together make up a <i>community,</i> and many different communities interact with one another in an <i>ecosystem.</i> A group of ecosystems that interact with one another is called a <i>biome</i>, and all the biomes on the globe make up the Earth’s <i>biosphere.</i></p>\n<p>Examining populations, specifically, is useful because they grow, decline, and respond to their environment together. Scientists use a few common measurements to characterize populations:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Size:</b> The <i>size</i> of a population is the number of individuals that make it up.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Density:</b> The <i>density</i> of a population is the number of individuals (population size) in relation to the area they inhabit.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Distribution:</b> The <i>distribution</i> of a population indicates where the individuals are located across the environment they occupy. For example, although 1,000 honeybees may live in your backyard, most of them stay in the hive, while only a few fly around to the flowers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Sex ratio:</b> The <i>sex ratio</i> of a population is the number of males versus females.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Age structure:</b> The <i>age structure</i> of a population describes how many individuals fall into different age classes. For example, some populations consist mainly of young individuals, while others include individuals spread across many ages.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"What defines an ecosystem?","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The basic unit of study in environmental science is the ecosystem. An <i>ecosystem</i> consists of a biological community and its physical environment. Here are the most important things you need to know about ecosystems:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">An ecosystem can be as small as a drop of water or as large as a forest.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Some ecosystems (such as caves) have clear boundaries, while others (such as forests) do not.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">An ecosystem provides the organisms that live in it what they need to survive: food (energy), water, and shelter.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">All the biological processes in an ecosystem run on energy captured from the sun.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Energy moves around an ecosystem through the food web.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">The number of producers (or plants) in an ecosystem determines that ecosystem’s productivity potential.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">An ecosystem recycles matter through the process of decomposition.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Ecosystems provide services, such as food production (farmland), water filtering (wetlands), carbon removal, raw material production (timber, rubber), and aesthetic value.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Because many modern human societies get their food, water, and other resources from all over the planet, you can consider the entire globe to be the human ecosystem.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Working toward a more sustainable environment","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Environmental science is all about finding ways to live more sustainably, which means using resources today in a way that maintains their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t mean living without luxuries, but rather being aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste.</p>\n<p>The following sustainability measures start small with what you can do individually to take better care of the Earth; the list then branches out to cover more far-reaching changes.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Eating locally:</b> Depending more on locally available food reduces the amount of energy used in food transportation and supports your local food-producing economy.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Recycling:</b> Doing so reduces trash and conserves natural resources.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Conserving water:</b> <i>Water conservation</i> is the process of using less water to begin with and recycling or reusing as much water as possible. The goal of water conservation is to maintain a freshwater supply that can meet the needs of as many people as possible for as long as possible.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Taking steps toward smarter land use:</b> Both large-scale and small-scale possibilities include compact architecture and urban design to efficiently use land space, mixed-use planning that locates businesses close to where people live, and creation of parks and other green spaces to provide recreation for people and habitat for wildlife.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Creating a sustainable economy:</b> Environmental economists seek to include the cost of environmental damage in product pricing through taxes, fines, and regulations.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Six months","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-07T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208293},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2022-03-08T16:27:06+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-08T16:28:47+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:21+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"climate change for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This Cheat Sheet summarizes the main aspects climate change, explaining greenhouse gases, effects on the planet, and how you can help.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"This Cheat Sheet describes how and why greenhouse gases are formed, investigates some important global warming terms, uncovers the negative impacts of climate change, and offers solutions you can implement in your everyday life to alleviate rising greenhouse gas emissions.\r\n\r\nAlthough climate change is connected to ugly futures, melting icecaps, rising sea levels, soaring temperatures, worsening hurricanes and monsoons, and the list goes on, it’s also a link to a better future. Climate change is opening doors for the development of new types of fuels, leading the shift to reliable energy sources, and creating a vision of a greener tomorrow.","description":"This Cheat Sheet describes how and why greenhouse gases are formed, investigates some important global warming terms, uncovers the negative impacts of climate change, and offers solutions you can implement in your everyday life to alleviate rising greenhouse gas emissions.\r\n\r\nAlthough climate change is connected to ugly futures, melting icecaps, rising sea levels, soaring temperatures, worsening hurricanes and monsoons, and the list goes on, it’s also a link to a better future. Climate change is opening doors for the development of new types of fuels, leading the shift to reliable energy sources, and creating a vision of a greener tomorrow.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9735,"name":"Elizabeth May","slug":"elizabeth-may","description":" <p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9735"}},{"authorId":34718,"name":"John Kidder","slug":"john-kidder","description":" <p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34718"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}},{"articleId":284282,"title":"Bivalves: Parts One and Two","slug":"bivalves-parts-one-and-two","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284282"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":290945,"slug":"climate-change-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119703105","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119703107-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119703107/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119703105-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Climate Change For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"<p><p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B><b data-author-id=\"34718\">John Kidder</b></b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. <p><b><b data-author-id=\"9735\">Elizabeth May</b></b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. 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","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/34718"}},{"authorId":9735,"name":"Elizabeth May","slug":"elizabeth-may","description":" <p><b>Elizabeth May</b> is the former leader of the Green Party of Canada. She founded and served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada from 1989 to 2006. May has been the Member of Parliament in Canada since May 2011.</p> <p><B>John Kidder</b> was a founding member of the Green Party in British Columbia. He has been a cowboy, miner, fisher, range management specialist, technology entrepreneur, small farmer, and governance practitioner since then. <p>The authors married on Earth Day 2019. ","hasArticle":false,"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9735"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119703105&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b29cea0b\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119703105&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b29cf8ee\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Understanding greenhouse gases","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Planet Earth is warm enough to sustain life, thanks to gases in the planet’s atmosphere that hold heat. These gases are called <em>greenhouse gases</em> <em>(GHGs)</em> because they act like a greenhouse — they trap heat inside the  atmosphere.</p>\n<p>The more GHGs in the atmosphere, the warmer the planet gets. The average temperature on Earth has historically been 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), but humans have increased GHGs in the atmosphere by about 35 percent.</p>\n<p>So far, these additional gases have caused Earth’s average global temperature to increase by 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius). The consensus among the world’s scientists is that the temperature must not go beyond 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) without risking catastrophic effects. Therefore, the slogan and call to action “1.5 to stay alive.”</p>\n<p>Following, are some basics about GHGs.</p>\n<h3>The main GHGs</h3>\n<p>The two major GHGs both occur naturally and can be increased due to human activity:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)</strong>: Responsible for 80 percent of global warming, this gas is produced from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. It also occurs naturally as it flows in a cycle between oceans, soil, plants, and animals.</li>\n<li><strong>Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>):</strong> Responsible for 19 percent of global warming, this gas is produced by fracking and developing natural gas (which is itself methane), rotting garbage and wastewater, gas from livestock, and rice crops. Swamps and anything that decomposes without air naturally creates methane.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Two main sources of GHGs</h3>\n<p>Here are the two main sources of GHGs:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Energy use:</strong> Humans derive energy from burning fossil fuels, which releases almost three quarters of all human-produced GHGs into the atmosphere. Half of all fossil fuels are burned to provide electricity and heat; the next big users of fossil fuels are manufacturing and transportation.</li>\n<li><strong>Land use:</strong> How humans remove forests and use land contributes more than a quarter of all human-produced GHGs to the atmosphere. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so logging and clearing forest land for agriculture and development means more carbon dioxide stays in the air.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Five ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>What you can do to help reduce your carbon footprint depends on where you live, the resources you have, and how much time you can give. If you want to do something about global warming, however, then simple changes can have a big impact. Here are some straightforward solutions that you can implement right away:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Eat less (or no) meat.</strong> Going vegetarian has the same impact on reducing GHG emissions as if you trade in a regular car for an electric vehicle. The process of making a pound of commercial meat uses ten times more energy than making a pound of beans or grains.</li>\n<li><strong>Hook your home up to clean energy.</strong> If you can’t afford to install solar panels or wind turbines on your roof, you can tap into an independent clean energy supplier. Let them build the wind turbine, and you reap the benefits. This step reduces your own emissions and helps build the renewable energy industry.</li>\n<li><strong>Insulate your house.</strong> The average home has the equivalent of a basketball-sized hole in the side of its wall. That’s how much heating and cooling you can keep from escaping if you properly insulate your home’s ceilings, walls, windows, and doors.</li>\n<li><strong>Travel smart.</strong> Reducing the number of flights you take in a year has a huge impact. One long-haul flight can be enough to double your impact on climate change, so think twice before taking that long trip. Whenever possible, take the train or bus. Minimize your driving by carpooling, walking, biking, or taking public transit.</li>\n<li><strong>Use only the energy you need.</strong> Develop energy saving habits — turn off the lights and TV when you leave the room, and turn down your thermostats when the house is empty in winter, and up in summer. Choose low-energy technologies by looking for the <a href=\"https://www.energystar.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ENERGY STAR</a> logo on all appliances, electronics, computers, and more. These qualification standards highlight products that use the least energy.</li>\n<li><strong>Make major purchases climate-aware. </strong>When it does come time to trade in your car, put a new roof on your house, install a new furnace or air conditioning, or buy new major appliances, you can make a real contribution to the climate, and save yourself money, by taking advantage of the huge strides made by manufacturers in all these areas. Your economic and environmental choices have a real impact.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Major potential effects of global warming","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The impact of global warming will increase in the coming years, but the degree of change will vary greatly, depending on where you live and depending on how rapidly nations around the world reduce GHG emissions.</p>\n<p>No matter where you live, though, the unchecked impacts of climate change are potentially catastrophic in the long term:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>It</strong> <strong>affects people.</strong> Depending on their location, people may be affected by disease, rising sea levels, drought, or major storms. The impact of these effects will be greatest on those with the least financial resources to adapt to or recover from the effects.</li>\n<li><strong>It causes extreme weather.</strong> While the atmosphere warms, the climate is changing, and so is the weather. More frequent and more intense storms, flooding, droughts, heat waves, and even extreme snowfalls are all part of the changes.</li>\n<li><strong>It</strong> <strong>increases extinctions.</strong> Changing climates mean that some environments may no longer be hospitable for certain plants or animals, which will need to relocate to survive. Some species, such as polar bears, have nowhere to go. Extinction is a possibility for many species of animals and plants, which may be unable to adapt to their environment at the same speed at which the climate is changing it.</li>\n<li><strong>It</strong> <strong>melts ice at the poles.</strong> The Arctic ice is melting so rapidly that within a few years the North Pole will be ice covered only seasonally. This has a dramatic impact on the planet’s climate: Polar ice reflects sunlight and deflects heat; when it melts, more of that heat stays in the atmosphere. The melting of the Greenland and Western Antarctic Ice Sheets threatens an extreme rise in sea levels.</li>\n<li><strong>It warms oceans.</strong> While the oceans warm, water is expanding and causing sea levels to rise. Warmer waters are killing coral reefs and krill — essential to supporting the sea food web.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Key climate change/global warming terms","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The phrase <em>climate change</em> hasn’t been around long, but <em>global warming,</em> as it’s also known, is nothing new. In fact, it has been a constant throughout history. Earth’s climate today is very different from what it was 2 million years ago, let alone 10,000 years ago.</p>\n<p>Here are the key terms that are crucial to understanding global warming:</p>\n<p><strong>Carbon cycle: </strong>The natural system that, ideally, creates a balance between carbon <em>emitters </em>(such as humans) and carbon <em>absorbers</em> (such as trees), so the atmosphere doesn’t contain an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide. (Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are expressed as parts per million, or ppm.)</p>\n<p><strong>Carbon sinks: </strong>Anything that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores carbon. The ocean, trees, and soil are all carbon sinks.</p>\n<p><strong>Fossil fuels:</strong> Fuels, such as oil and coal, that are made from the fossils of old plants, which have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form underground.</p>\n<p><strong>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): </strong>An international body of the United Nations, composed of more than 2,000 scientific experts. The IPCC compiles peer-reviewed climate science to create an objective source of climate information.</p>\n<p><strong>Paris Agreement:</strong> The international agreement under the United Nations to limit global heating to as far as possible below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2.0 degrees Celsius) above the pre-industrial global average temperatures, and to attempt to keep global heating to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius). The Paris Agreement has been ratified by more than 200 countries.</p>\n<p><strong>Renewable energy: </strong>A continual source of energy, such as energy from the sun, wind, flowing water, heat from the Earth, or movement of the tides.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-08T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":291362},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:55:40+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-01T14:17:21+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:18+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33756"},"slug":"science","categoryId":33756},{"name":"Environmental Science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"},"slug":"environmental-science","categoryId":33763}],"title":"Weather For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"weather for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"weather-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Here's a quick reference guide to key weather terms and cloud types to help you explore more about the phenomena you see every day.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Who doesn’t talk about the weather? But, if you know the meanings of some key weather words, you can talk even more fluently. And clouds provide scope for imagination and help in predicting and anticipating weather changes.","description":"Who doesn’t talk about the weather? But, if you know the meanings of some key weather words, you can talk even more fluently. And clouds provide scope for imagination and help in predicting and anticipating weather changes.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33763,"title":"Environmental Science","slug":"environmental-science","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33763"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":292097,"title":"Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day","slug":"this-earth-day-find-new-ways-to-go-green","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/292097"}},{"articleId":291362,"title":"Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"climate-change-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/291362"}},{"articleId":284309,"title":"Check Out the Bones on Those Osteichthyes!","slug":"check-out-the-bones-on-those-osteichthyes","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284309"}},{"articleId":284296,"title":"Elasmobranchii: Sharks, Skates, and Rays","slug":"elasmobranchii-sharks-skates-and-rays","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284296"}},{"articleId":284288,"title":"Cephalopods: Head and Tentacles Above the Rest","slug":"cephalopods-head-and-tentacles-above-the-rest","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/284288"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b268b2a4\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;science&quot;,&quot;environmental-science&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-63221b268bd4d\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":191217,"title":"Key Weather Words Defined","slug":"key-weather-words-defined","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/191217"}},{"articleId":191220,"title":"Types of Cloud","slug":"types-of-cloud","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","science","environmental-science"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/191220"}}],"content":[{"title":"Key weather words defined","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you want to talk about the weather, it helps to know the lingo. The following list contains words both common and uncommon you need to know to discuss weather and weather conditions knowledgably:</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Atmosphere:</b> The envelope of gases that compose the air<br />\nsurrounding Earth.</td>\n<td><b>Low pressure system:</b> An area of rising air usually<br />\nmarked by cloudiness, often referred to as a storm.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Chaos:</b> A state of a system in which disturbances large<br />\nand small grow and decay. (The atmosphere is chaotic, and so is<br />\nunpredictable beyond a few days.)</td>\n<td><b>Ozone hole:</b> A thinning of the protective ozone layer in<br />\nthe stratosphere, often observed over Antarctica since the late<br />\n1970s during the Southern Hemisphere’s spring.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Climate:</b> The average, long-term weather of a place.</td>\n<td><b>Precipitation:</b> Water vapor that condenses in the<br />\natmosphere, falling to the surface as rain, snow, or ice.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Coriolis Effect:</b> The “bending” effect of the<br />\nEarth’s rotation on the path of things in motion in the<br />\natmosphere and the ocean. The bending or deflection of its course<br />\nis to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the<br />\nSouthern Hemisphere.</td>\n<td><b>Pressure:</b> The weight of the air overhead, exerted in all<br />\ndirections on everything air touches. Horizontal differences in<br />\npressure cause winds. Vertical differences in air pressure<br />\ninfluence cloud formation and storm development.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Dewpoint:</b> The temperature to which air must be cooled in<br />\norder for it to become saturated with water vapor.</td>\n<td><b>Relative humidity:</b> The percentage of the air that is<br />\nsaturated with water vapor at the current temperature. A value that<br />\nchanges with temperature. Air that is saturated at 50 degrees<br />\n— 100 percent relative humidity — falls to about 50<br />\npercent relative humidity when its temperature rises to 70<br />\ndegrees.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>El Niño:</b> The tropical Pacific Ocean becomes<br />\nwarmer, and air pressure changes, reducing the strength of east to<br />\nwest winds. These changes can affect weather in many parts of the<br />\nworld.</td>\n<td><b>Solstice:</b> The point reached on or about June 21 and<br />\nDecember 21 when the seasonal track of sunlight over the Earth<br />\nreaches its northernmost and southernmost progress.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Equinox:</b> Latin for “equal nights.” The time in<br />\nspring and autumn when the Sun shines directly over the Equator and<br />\nhours of daylight and darkness are equal everywhere.</td>\n<td><b>Stratosphere:</b> The layer of much thinner gases in the<br />\natmosphere above the troposphere, between 7 miles and 30 miles in<br />\nheight. It includes the ozone layer. It is called the stratosphere<br />\nbecause the temperatures are usually stratified and uniform at this<br />\nlevel.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Global warming:</b> The idea that the continual buildup of<br />\ngreenhouse gases in the atmosphere is leading to warming of<br />\ntemperatures that could alter climate patterns and seriously<br />\ndisrupt societies.</td>\n<td><b>Troposphere:</b> The lowest part of the atmosphere, where<br />\nall of the weather takes place. Its height averages about 7 miles,<br />\nranging from about 5 miles at the poles to about 10 miles at the<br />\nEquator.</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>High pressure system:</b> An area where more air has been<br />\nadded overhead than in surrounding areas. That accounts for higher<br />\nbarometric pressure. Typically, the air enters at high altitudes,<br />\nsinks, and exits at ground level. The sinking motion causes warming<br />\nand drying, leaving the clear sky often found in high pressure<br />\nareas.</td>\n<td><b>Wind chill:</b> The additional cooling effect of wind<br />\nblowing on bare skin.</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Types of clouds","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Clouds play a large role in discussing, predicting, and watching the weather — not to mention providing scope for daydreams and flights of fancy. The following list describes the common cloud types that form in various layers of the atmosphere — their names and what they look like — as well as clouds that form vertically.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>High layered</b> (above 17,000 feet):</p>\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cirrus:</b> Delicate white strands of ice crystals, often forming “mares tails.”</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cirrostratus:</b> A veil of white cloudiness often covering the entire sky, causing “halos” around the moon and Sun and frequently indicating an approaching storm.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cirrocumulus:</b> Small white patchy patterns like fish scales and often called “mackerel skies.”</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Middle layered</b> (6,000 to 17,000 feet):</p>\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">*<b>Altostratus: </b>Drab gray clouds of water droplets that obscure the image of the sun or moon. They can produce rain and snow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Altocumulus:</b> A darker, larger pattern of patchiness that may produce a shower.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Low layered</b> (below 6,000 feet):</p>\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Stratus:</b> Wispy cloud of fog that hangs a few hundred feet above the ground, often bringing drizzle.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Stratocumulus:</b> Dark gray clouds, often covering the entire sky, which usually do not rain. They form rounded wavelike bands that are broken by blue sky.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Nimbostratus:</b> Low, dark, ragged rain clouds that often bring continuous rain or sleet or snow.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Vertical clouds:</b></p>\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cumulus</b>: Large, billowy “cotton balls” of clouds with dark bottoms and bright white tops that can reach 10,000 feet high. May produce brief showers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cumulonimbus:</b> Towering thunderheads, dark on the bottom and white anvil-shaped tops that can extend to 50,000 feet. Often produces lightning and heavy precipitation, including hail, and occasionally tornadoes.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"sponsorAd":"","sponsorEbookTitle":"","sponsorEbookLink":"","sponsorEbookImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two 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Environmental Science What Is a Hurricane and How to Make a Preparedness Checklist

Article / Updated 10-03-2022

A hurricane starts as a tropical storm, and a tropical storm reaches hurricane status when it develops and sustains winds moving at least 74 miles per hour. The storm itself is a cyclone with winds spiraling (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) in a counterclockwise direction. These cyclones, or rotating storms, develop over any ocean but are called hurricanes when they arise over the Atlantic or Northern Pacific. In other areas, they’re called typhoons or tropical cyclones. How does a hurricane form, and when is hurricane season? How a hurricane comes together isn’t precisely known, but it requires warm water (at least 79 degrees Fahrenheit) and winds that rise without much change in direction. Those factors combine to create winds that move in a spiral. As a storm grows, it may cover a diameter of more than 600 miles and gust at more than 200 miles per hour — nearly the top speed of a Formula One racecar. The faster the wind, the higher the storm rating and the greater the threat to everyone and everything in its path. Hurricanes are rated by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5, with a Category 1 storm showing the lowest intensity and winds of no more than 95 mph. Those in Category 5 top 156 mph. Hurricanes Maria (Dominica and Puerto Rico) and Irma (Florida) were Category 5 storms that made landfall in 2017. Windows and doors may get smashed from winds at the Category 2 level and above. Hurricane season runs from late May through November. What is the center of a hurricane, and other storm anatomy questions A hurricane is made up of several parts. If you could look closely at a cross-section of a hurricane, here’s what you’d see, starting from the center of the hurricane: Eye: An oasis of calm surrounded by hurtling winds and rain, the eye of a hurricane is about 20 to 40 miles of low winds, light rain, and even clear skies where the air is sinking rather than rising. Eye wall: Swirling around the eye, the eye wall is a band of thunderstorms where the rain and wind are strongest. Air is moving rapidly here in the direction of the eye of the storm, rising before it sinks again at the storm’s center. Feeder bands: Stretching sometimes hundreds of miles from the center of the storm, feeder bands of a hurricane are bands of heavy rain and wind sometimes include tornadoes. Outflow: Hurricanes stretch up much farther than out. Way up at a plane’s cruising altitude, the outflow of a hurricane is a huge swath of clouds swirling in the opposite direction of a hurricane. Hurricane prone areas If you live in Montana, you’re in the clear. Because hurricanes develop over warm ocean waters and lose strength as they travel over land, they do their worst near the country’s coasts. Here are the counties and areas that are prone and have been most often hit from 1960 to 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce: Monroe County, Florida Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Carteret County, North Carolina Dare County, North Carolina Hyde County, North Carolina Jefferson Parish, Louisiana Palm Beach County, Florida Miami-Dade County, Florida Bernard Parish, Louisiana Cameron Parish, Louisiana What is hurricane storm surge? Hurricanes form over warm oceans, and when they reach land they push huge amounts of ocean water onto the shore with them. This is usually described as a “wall of water” but more specifically is an extremely fast rise in water above sea level. It technically is known as the storm surge. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the storm surge topped 25 feet and was a major factor in that storm’s high death toll. (At least 1,500 people died during Katrina.) A storm surge unleashes the incredible power of wind and water, sweeping up trees, cars, and buildings as it moves. Even standing in just six inches of these powerful waters would be difficult. A storm surge may reach land ahead of the storm, and when it does it may flood the roads you’d have used to evacuate. If you live near the shore, get out well in advance of the storm’s landfall. The storm surge may hit a day earlier, and it’s the deadliest element of a hurricane. The elements of a storm surge, like strength and angle of the storm, the shape of the land where it hits, and the shape of the continental shelf at the coastline, combine in unpredictable ways. In other words, no one can predict the intensity of a storm surge. Erring on the side of caution is warranted, especially when you consider that a cubic yard of water weighs almost a ton. The risk of damage from a storm surge is highest in the following states: Florida Louisiana Texas New Jersey New York You don’t have to live on a coast to get hit by the rains and winds a hurricane creates, and if you are in a high-risk area, you need to take steps — before hurricane season hits — to prepare yourself, your family, and your home for the potentially deadly damage. A hurricane is nature at its most destructive. These tropical cyclones don’t sneak up: When a hurricane is on its way, you’ll have several days’ warning before it lands, so keep an eye on the news or sign up for hurricane alerts. But sometimes several days isn’t enough. If you act much earlier, you won’t be fighting your neighbors for the last jugs of water on the store shelves. Create a hurricane preparedness checklist You want to prepare for a hurricane before hurricane season even starts, and a hurricane preparedness checklist can help you make sure you’ve got everything in order. Avoid the mad dash for supplies by prepping a hurricane disaster supply kit before you’re likely to need it. You want a large plastic tub or duffle bag so that everything in your kit is in one place and is ready to move. Pack it with the following: Water jugs: Traditional wisdom says bring a gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days. If you have room to carry it, err on the side of too much water. Food: Pack up enough nonperishable food for a few days — and a can opener. Think canned tuna and fruit, dry cereal, peanut butter, or granola bars, and focus on high-energy foods rather than salty snacks that will lead you to use too much of your water. Pack foods you like and some comfort foods because you’re going into a high-stress situation. No need to add to your angst. First-aid kit Flashlight and extra batteries Portable radio (you may not have Internet service) and extra batteries Cellphone charger Toilet paper Blankets or sleeping bags Glasses or contacts and contact solution A change of clothes for each family member Distractions like games, toys, and books Pet food Insect repellent Whistle (to signal for help) or flares Waterproof containers or plastic bags Other ways to prepare for a hurricane Preparation isn’t just what you do when a storm is imminent. Many of the moves that best protect you are the ones you make far ahead of time, like building a hurricane kit. You also want to take these steps: Have a plan. And make sure everyone in your household knows it. Choose a point person for everyone to contact and a meeting place if you get separated. Stay current on weather conditions. Keep a close eye on weather updates and emergency guidelines for your area. Minimize tree-related damage. Remove any dead wood from your trees; keep them trimmed so that they’re healthy and branches don’t reach your home. Maintain your car. Keep your car in good working order; gas up your tank when a storm nears. Protect your windows. Plan how you’ll protect your windows with permanent storm shutters or plywood. Long before a storm hits, make sure you have the right number and sizes of 5/8-inch-thick plywood sheets ready to be nailed in. Reinforce your exterior doors. They’re more likely to stay put against a hurricane if they’re secured by three hinges per door and a one-inch deadbolt. Prepare for rain run-off. Regularly clean gutters and drains so that they’re in the best shape to handle heavy rain. Get and maintain the right insurance. Purchase adequate homeowner’s insurance and become well-acquainted with its terms. Arm yourself with information Several organizations specialize in weather and emergency information. Check out these resources for further details about staying safe in a hurricane: The American Red Cross offers several guides for hurricane preparedness and safety and can tell you how to donate to relief efforts. FEMA keeps you alerted to storm progress, evacuation orders, and shelter locations during a hurricane. The Department of Homeland Security’s gov gives you hour-by-hour checklists of preparation and safety guidelines for hurricanes. You can track a storm through the National Hurricane Center Weather Underground tracks tropical storm and hurricane activity in tremendous detail and offers historical data as well as general preparedness information. For official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Hurricane Center for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.

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Environmental Science How to Survive in a Hurricane

Article / Updated 09-26-2022

When a hurricane strikes, making the right moves may be a life-or-death matter. More hurricanes happen during September than any other month, but hurricane season spans late May through November and can push relentless rain and wind up to 100 miles inland. Preparation is important. If you’re told to evacuate, do not hesitate. And if you’re caught in a storm, here are tips on how to stay safe during a hurricane: Stay inside. Don’t try to move to another location. You may not be in the ideal spot, but being on the roads when a storm is underway or imminent is too dangerous to risk. Floodwaters come up fast and move quickly. Water doesn’t need to be more than a foot deep to sweep your car away. Make sure all doors and windows are shut tight. Close your curtains or blinds to put a buffer between you and the glass, which may break from winds, branches, or flying debris. If you have time, bracing exterior doors with heavy furniture is a good idea. Don’t tape or crack your windows. If you haven’t braced your windows with plywood or permanent storm shutters, you’re out of luck at this point. The advice to tape windows is useless, and getting near them as winds pick up is incredibly dangerous. You may also have heard that you should crack your windows to relieve the pressure, and this, too, is bad advice. Letting in the wind and the rain does not help the situation at all. Keep your windows shut, and keep away from them. Stay in the lowest level of the building, and find an interior room. That may be a closet, bathroom, or stairwell. (Stay out of elevators during a storm.) Upper-level and exterior rooms are more vulnerable to damage from high winds; you’re safest where there are the most barriers between you and the storm. Bring pets inside. Avoid using candles. High winds and flame make the risk of fire much too great. Reach for a flashlight instead. Shield yourself with whatever you can. Especially if you don’t have an interior room, putting a table between yourself and a window or door may keep you safe from glass or debris. Cover yourself with a sofa cushion or mattress. You may be instructed to turn off your utilities at some point in anticipation of losing power, so it’s important to monitor for this direction. If you’re without power for either reason, avoid opening your refrigerator so that it keeps food cold as long as possible. Your home may flood during a hurricane. If it does, turn off your electricity and move to a higher floor. Floodwater may be contaminated with sewage. At some point, the wind and rain are likely to die down. Don’t be tempted to go outside; this may just be the eye of the storm and a lead-in to more high winds and pounding rain. For official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Hurricane Center for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.

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Environmental Science What to Do Before a Hurricane Reaches You

Article / Updated 09-26-2022

Hurricanes are scary, and few people think clearly under that stress. Additionally, a lot of what you need to do to best weather a storm starts well ahead of hurricane season — which runs from late May through November. Start your hurricane safety plan ahead of a storm, while things are calm. The following steps put you and your family in the best position to protect your home and yourselves when a hurricane is on its way. Have an evacuation plan ready . Determine whether you’re in an evacuation zone and watch for updates; the course of a storm may change. Scout your yard and remove any furniture or other items that may get picked up by the wind and fly through windows or otherwise cause destruction. Put any important documents in a watertight container, along with medications and insurance cards. Charge your phone and any other devices you plan to use or carry with you. Turn your fridge to the coldest setting and put a thermometer in there. You’re likely to lose electricity, and a colder starting temp will keep your food cold longer. The thermometer will let you know whether your milk is a lost cause when the electricity’s back. Look into hurricane insurance If you live in an area commonly hit by hurricanes, standard homeowner’s insurance isn’t going to provide everything you need. Such a policy addresses structural damage and typically includes a higher deductible whenever that damage arises from a hurricane. And it may be inadequate to cover your costs for rebuilding and the living expenses you pay while you rebuild. Be sure to look closely at coverage for additional living expenses (ALE), which are essential after extensive storm damage that requires you to rent living space while damage is repaired. Find out what your policy covers and what it excludes. For example, a standard homeowner’s policy probably doesn't cover damage from sewer backups, which are common after major storms. You actually can buy a specific policy for this instance. Much of the damage from a hurricane comes from flooding, which also requires a separate policy. To get the full value from the policies you do buy, make sure you have a complete inventory of what you own and how much it’s worth. Doing so will make filing claims later on much smoother. Keep this documentation and your policies in a water-safe container that you can easily move with you when you evacuate. If you rent or own an apartment in a co-op, you need your own insurance policies, but you also want to be aware of the coverage your building has in place. Hurricane “watch” or “warning?” What makes a watch different from a warning? These terms actually have very specific meanings. A hurricane watch tells you that hurricane-force winds may appear within 48 hours. If you hear a hurricane warning, know that you’re likely to encounter hurricane-force winds within 36 hours. Warnings usually are issued for about 300 miles of coastline at a time. Although satellite technology makes predicting a storm’s approach easy, determining exactly where it will make landfall is still difficult. If you are told to evacuate ahead of a hurricane, never hesitate. Leave as soon as possible. But, if whatever reason, you are unable to get out and find yourself caught in the storm, here's how to survive. Address kids, pets, and special needs during a storm Maybe one family member needs to keep insulin at a just-right temperature, or you have a dog who requires eye drops every four hours. Situations like these require more detailed planning. Be sure to think through a week’s worth of needs for each family member. That may mean finding a physician and forwarding medical records to a medical center in the city where you’ll wait out the storm at your cousin’s house, or it may require even more careful planning. Just make sure that as soon as you know a storm is possible, you carefully consider each family member’s needs for several days. Include the pets, the kids, and the grandma you’ll pick up on the way out of town. For pets and kids, concerns aren’t all that different: Be ready to feed and distract, at a minimum. You need to prepare whatever food, drinks, and toys or special objects will keep the kids and pets as content as possible during the storm. Make sure that your pets have been microchipped or that they’re wearing ID tags. It’s all too easy to become separated during the chaos of a storm. If your kids attend school or daycare, make sure that you know the schools’ evacuation plans. Laminate an “in case of emergency” card for each child that includes your contact information and that of a friend or relative who lives elsewhere and may be able to provide a safe place to stay if a storm arises. As much as possible, keep up your routines, which will reassure members of your family who rely on you. Your kids especially look to you for cues about how to act, so do your best to keep calm. Prepare a storm evacuation plan Uprooting your life in response to an incoming storm presents a host of challenges, like where you’ll end up and who’s in charge of the pet-food supply. Make the transition as smooth as possible by having an evacuation plan in place. It should cover the following: Where you’ll meet if you become separated: Pick a place close to home and one farther away where you can meet up, and choose a family member to serve as point person. This person is who everyone checks in with if you can’t stay in one place. Where you’ll stay: Identify a couple of options ahead of time. Shelters will arise nearby (use FEMA.gov to find them), or maybe a hospitable friend or family member lives outside the evacuation zone. If you have pets, this part of the planning is trickier; most shelters accept only service dogs. How you’ll get there: If you have a car, make sure it’s in good working order and your gas tank is full. If not, plan farther ahead for public transportation (which will shut down as the storm nears) or for someone to drive you. Supplies: Get your disaster supplies kit ready well ahead of time. Grab a phone charger for the car, and if you’re traveling far, have snacks and distractions ready — especially if you’re traveling with kids. Maps: Downed trees or flooding may require you to change your route at the last moment, so be ready with low-tech navigation that cannot let you down no matter the circumstances. IDs and cash: Appoint a family member to make sure everyone has an ID and a little bit of cash. Don’t let this be the time you’re caught with your wallet in your gym bag. Updates: If you don’t want to keep tuned to the weather on the car radio, ask one person to track the storm until you’re safely out of range. Emergency instructions sometimes change as the storm progresses, and you need to have the latest information as you evacuate. Notice: Identify a close friend or family member to check in with when you leave and when you have arrived at shelter outside the evacuation zone. Resolve: Staying in your home is tempting, even when you’ve been ordered to evacuate. Resolve, as a household, to follow those orders and accept no alternatives. Hurricanes are deadly. Agreeing ahead of time that you’ll evacuate can save valuable time debating the issue later. If you’re on the coast, get out well in advance of the storm surge When a hurricane pushes ocean water ashore, that push is called a storm surge and is responsible for more deaths and damage than any other part of the storm. Depending on how and where the storm hits, a storm surge — measured in how far above sea level the water rises — can bring almost 30 feet of water to land. This water moves at high speed, bringing tremendous destructive power to everything in its path. These surges are unpredictable, and they often arrive before the storms themselves. When they hit, water levels can rise ten feet in just minutes. Help cannot make it to you under these circumstances, and you are unlikely to be able to drive away from a storm surge. If you’re near a coast and anywhere close to a hurricane’s path, you must evacuate. If you see it coming, it’s too late. The surge can easily go from an inch to several feet before you even make it out of your driveway. Keep an axe in your attic so that if for some reason you are trapped in your home during a surge, you have an escape route through the roof. Travel to hurricane prone areas Because hurricanes happen near coastlines, a lot of popular vacation spots are susceptible. When you’re thinking about planning a vacation, take a look at the storm season before you book tickets and hotel rooms. Travel insurance that covers natural disasters can help, and you should check with hotels and airlines about policies regarding refunds or rescheduling in the event of a storm. For official communications related to hurricanes, please visit the websites of FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Hurricane Center for the latest information. Please note that this is general preparedness information, not specific to a particular storm.

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Environmental Science Find New Ways to Go Green this Earth Day

Article / Updated 09-01-2022

Celebrate everything that is beautiful about our planet by reconnecting with nature, learning more about the natural environment, or picking up a new eco-friendly habit or two. April 22 is Earth Day — a world-wide celebration commemorating everything that makes our blue-marble planet unique and beautiful, and all the things we can do to protect it. Starting all the way back during the environmental movement of the 1970s, Earth Day has grown to become a powerful motivator for individuals and companies alike to become more environmentally aware and responsible. From local volunteer cleanups to nation-wide conservation initiatives, this year is no different, with numerous events happening at both the grassroots and state levels. Want to join in on the celebration? Find Earth Day events in your area, by visiting https://www.earthday.org/ The First Earth Day Did you know... In response to public outcry to the Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide "teach-in" about environmental issues to take place on April 22, 1970. More than 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 public schools, and 20 million citizens participated. Aside from volunteering or donating to an eco-friendly cause, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Earth Day — here are just a few. Plant a healthy diet You’ve probably already heard about the massive environmental impact that animal farming has on the planet. It is second only to fossil fuels in terms of contributing to human-made greenhouse gas emissions, the cause of climate change. And, while the jump from a traditional omnivorous diet to a full-blown vegan one is not something most people can accomplish overnight, cutting down on red meat is a great first step. Something as simple as committing to meat-free Mondays can have a significant influence on your health and the environment. Get started by taking a crack at one or two of our favorite plant-based recipes found in Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies. Channel your inner green thumb You don’t need to become an expert horticulturist to help save our planet. Simply buying local or better yet, growing some of your own food can help reduce your carbon footprint — not to mention, teach you valuable transferable skills like diligence and patience. Plus, there’s just something so satisfying about working with your hands, especially if you’re used to working in front of a screen all day. You can start by growing some common herbs like rosemary or thyme. They are fairly resilient and, depending on where you live, can even be grown indoors. If you lack the space to garden, look for farmers markets in your area or, better yet, join a community garden, these gardens are becoming increasingly popular, even in the most urban of cities. Don't worry if you have no previous gardening knowledge — beginner-friendly resources, such as Gardening Basics For Dummies, will help you get there. You can also find a farmers market near you using the USDA National Farmers Market Directory. Stay informed It’s no secret that our planet is in grave danger as a result of climate change. But, contrary to what you may feel after reading all the increasingly worrisome headlines, you must remember — there’s still hope. And, while the biggest contributors of climate change, like animal farming and fossil fuel burning, may seem so far removed from your daily life, you’d be surprised how much of a difference you as an individual can make. Staying informed is perhaps the easiest way to help environmental causes. As an informed citizen, you have the power to choose more wisely what products to buy, what companies and practices to support, and even who you vote for in the next election. Don't know where to start? Check out Climate Change For Dummies to help you navigate this complex topic. More ways to greenify your life There’s always something more we can do to reduce our environmental impact on the planet, but that should not discourage us from taking action — after all, every little bit counts. One small change in your daily routine today will lead you to more and more lasting changes in the future. If you’re ready to explore even more ways to go green, check out Green Living For Dummies for a more comprehensive guide to sustainable living. From the team at Dummies, we wish all our fellow earthlings a happy and green Earth Day.

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Environmental Science 10 Ways to Live Sustainably

Article / Updated 08-11-2022

Environmental science is all about finding ways to live more sustainably, which means using resources today in a way that maintains their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t mean living without luxuries but rather being aware of your resource consumption and reducing unnecessary waste. Reduce household energy use. Energy conservation is itself a source of energy. Here are several simple ways to reduce your household energy use: Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using. Install energy-efficient appliances. Use a programmable thermostat that lowers or raises the temperature when you’re not home. Set your thermostat lower than usual in the winter and bundle up. Open windows to allow a breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning. Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. Use an electric teakettle rather than a stovetop kettle to boil water. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Eat locally. A powerful way to live more sustainably is to eat locally. The convenience of supermarkets has changed how people think about food. You can stroll through aisles stocked with fruits, vegetables, and other products from all over the world any time of year. But these products consume huge amounts of fossil fuel energy to get from those global locations to your corner supermarket. Dispose with disposables. Previous generations didn’t dream of single-use razors, forks, cups, bags, and food storage containers, but these days, you can find a plastic version of almost any object and then throw that object away after you use it. Many of the environmental health issues today stem from toxins released into the environment by trash. Even trash that’s properly disposed of, such as that in a landfill, requires careful monitoring to ensure that dangerous chemicals don’t enter the surrounding environment. When you make a purchase, consider the item’s life expectancy: How long can the item be used? Will it have more than one use? When you’re done with it, will it end up in the trash? Start investing in reusable products for the items you most often throw away. Plant seeds. Try growing your own food. Simply plant a few seeds in a corner of your yard or in a container on your porch or windowsill. You don’t need acres; a few square feet on a patio, along the driveway, or in a window box can provide enough space to grow edible herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Recycle. Recycle as much as possible! If your neighborhood or apartment complex doesn’t offer recycling pickup, either find a drop-off location or request the curbside service. Buying products labeled post-consumer lets companies know that recycling is the way to go! For other items, such as CFLs, batteries, cellphones, and electronics, find an appropriate recycler. Be sure to ask electronics recyclers where these materials go for recycling and avoid companies that ship electronic waste overseas for unregulated “recycling” and salvage operations. Goodwill Industries International is one place that accepts electronics for responsible recycling. Resell and donate items. Items that you no longer need can get an extended life through resale and donation. By extending the life of any product, you help reduce dependence on disposable or cheaply made single-use products that end up in landfills. Try reselling clothing and children’s things through a secondhand or consignment retailer or consider donating them to a nonprofit resale organization (such as Goodwill) or charity organization (such as the Salvation Army or American Cancer Society) that will redistribute them to those in need. Drink from the tap. Dependence on bottled water has added more than a million tons of plastic to the waste stream every year. One reason people rely on bottled water is because they believe it’s safer and better tasting than tap water. But most municipal water supplies in the U.S. provide safe, clean, fresh water (and many bottled waters are just bottled from city water supplies anyway). If you don’t like the flavor of your tap water, consider the one-time investment in a filtration system. If you like the convenience of bottled water, purchase refillable bottles and keep one in your fridge, one in your car, and one at the office. Encourage your employer to install filters and offer glasses or reusable bottles at work, too. Save water. An easy way to live more sustainably is to conserve household water use. Consider installing water-efficient toilets or dual-flush toilets that let you choose whether to use a full flush (for solid waste) or half-flush (for liquid waste). Newer clothes washers can automatically sense the smallest level of water needed for each load. Smaller changes, such as switching to water-saving shower heads and adding aerators to your sink faucets, are also effective ways to significantly reduce household water use. To conserve water outdoors, use landscaping adapted to your local environment. When buying plants, look for drought-tolerant species and varieties and be sure to plant them in proper soil and sun conditions to reduce their need for excess watering. Set up sprinkler systems so they don’t water the sidewalk, the driveway, and other paved, impermeable surfaces. Rely less on your car. Using fossil fuels to support one person in each car on the road is clearly no longer sustainable. Investigate mass transit options in your town or city, such as a bus system, a light rail train system, or carpool and vanpool services for commuters. When traveling close to home, walk or ride your bike. Purchase fair-trade products. When you purchase items that are imported from all over the world — particularly coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, chocolate, and fruit — look for the fair-trade certification. This designation tells you that these items were grown using sustainable methods of agriculture and that local people are receiving fair prices for the goods they produce. Items that don’t have the fair-trade certification may have been produced unsustainably and may be the product of exploitative labor practices that don’t benefit the local people.

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Environmental Science Tornadoes: Really Twisted Winds

Article / Updated 04-18-2022

Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms. Nothing the atmosphere dishes out is more destructive. They can sweep up anything that moves. They lift buildings from their foundations. They make a swirling cloud of violently flying debris. They are very dangerous to all living things, not only because of the sheer power of their winds, but the missiles of debris they create. Wind measuring instruments are destroyed by tornadoes, although according to reliable estimates, their winds can exceed 250 miles per hour. Flying at those speeds, pieces of straw can penetrate wood. According to most scientists, the top wind speeds in the strongest tornadoes are about 280 miles per hour. In an average year, 1,200 tornadoes are reported in the United States, far more than any other place in the world. On average, tornadoes cause 80 deaths in the U.S. every year and 1,500 injuries, although averages don't mean very much when it comes to these storms. In 1998, for example, 130 people died in tornadoes in the U.S., including 42 who were killed in an outbreak in central Florida and 34 who died in a single tornado in Birmingham, Alabama. Most human casualties are people in mobile homes and vehicles. The deadliest single tornado struck on March 18, 1925. In three and a half hours, it traveled 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people. Most tornadoes, nearly 90 percent, travel from the southwest to the northeast, although some follow quick-changing zigzag paths. Weak tornadoes, or decaying tornadoes, often have a thin ropelike appearance. The most violent tornadoes have a broad, dark, funnel-shape that extends from a dark wall cloud of a large thunderstorm. There have been reports of some tornadoes that practically stand still, hovering over a single field. Others crawl along at 5 miles per hour. But the average tornado travels 35 miles per hour, and some have been clocked at more than 70 miles per hour. A tornado in 1917 traveled a record 293 miles. The average width of a tornado's path is about 140 yards, although some have been reported to be more than a mile wide. Most tornadoes occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., although they have been known to strike at all hours of the day or night. They usually last only about 15 minutes, although, some have been known to stay on the ground for hours. Tornado Alley The size of the place known as Tornado Alley expands through spring and summer as heating from the sun grows warmer and the flow of warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico spreads farther north. An area that includes central Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas is the hard core of the season, but before it is over, as Figure 1 illustrates, Tornado Alley extends north to Nebraska and Iowa. Figure 1: Tornado Alley. It shrinks and swells over time, but there is only one Tornado Alley. Nowhere else in the world sees weather conditions in a combination that is so perfect for these storms. Here's what makes the storms of Tornado Alley so bad: Beginning in spring and continuing through summer, low-level winds from the south and southeast bring a plentiful supply of warm tropical moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico into the Great Plains. From down off of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains or from out of the deserts of northern Mexico come other flows of very dry air that travel about 3,000 feet above the ground. From 10,000 feet, the prevailing westerly winds, sometimes accompanied by a powerful jet stream, race overhead, carrying cool air from the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, the winds form a convective cap lid of warm air over the Plains that the rising air is eventually able to break through and explode upward into the sky. These are the ingredients for the most severe thunderstorms and most powerful twisters — sharp differences in temperatures at different levels, big contrasts in dryness and moisture, and layers of powerful winds that are blowing from different directions at different speeds. Forecasting Weather forecasters in Tornado Alley have a pretty good idea of the menu of conditions that are necessary to make severe thunderstorms, and they're pretty good at being able to forecast that severe thunderstorms are on the way. They can say that large hailstones and strong winds are likely, and a tornado is a possibility during the next several hours or the next day or two. But they can't forecast a tornado. The question of which of the conditions on the menu for severe thunderstorms actually causes tornadoes to form in these storms remains one of the most difficult mysteries of weather science. A severe thunderstorm that causes a tornado can look exactly like a severe thunderstorm that does not cause a tornado. Weather researchers have been working on the problem for years, chasing tornadoes all over the countryside, and still it is one of those things that is not well understood. The presence in the area of supercell thunderstorms really puts pressure on forecasters in local weather service field offices. The national Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, is on the phone giving advice, but the buck stops in the local office. The local forecasters know that a lethal tornado could come spinning down out of the dark cloud at any moment, but they can't be sure until they see it show up on a Doppler radar screen or a funnel is actually observed. Warning the public Billions of dollars have been spent in the last several years on research and computer modeling, radars and satellite technologies, and high-speed communications. Progress has been made. On average, when tornado warnings were issued in 1994, communities had six minutes to react. By 1998, the average lead time for warnings had stretched to 12 minutes. Television meteorologists and other media outlets play vital roles in such weather emergencies, continuously broadcasting the locations and predicted paths of tornadoes. Many lives are being saved by the increased public awareness and the lengthening time of advance warning that is available. In fact, the longer lead-time has reached the point where people are rethinking the idea of public shelters for tornadoes. As minutes are added to advance warnings, now it may be possible for people in harm's way to rush to a shelter before a tornado hits. More than 15,000 severe storm and tornado watches and warnings are issued by the National Weather Service every year. Most of the time, they are accurate. Sometimes, they are missed. Occasionally there are false alarms. The successes are taken for granted and often overlooked in the details of a tornado disaster. The failures and the false alarms seem to be remembered forever. Perfectly reasonable people who will forgive you for missing the rain on their picnic now have a different attitude. When it comes to tornadoes, they want perfection. Lives and limbs What are the odds of a tornado crossing your path? Even in Tornado Alley, the odds are against such an unhappy occasion. When it happens, of course, it's a disaster — but still, the odds are high against it. People think about tornadoes in tornado country the way people in the Southeast think about hurricanes and people in California think about earthquakes. It's part of the background of daily life that you really don't give very much thought to, because chances are, it's not going to happen. The five-dollar word for this is complacency — a self-satisfied unawareness of danger — and somebody is always getting on their high horse about it. The truth is, day in and day out, most people have other things to worry about that just seem more real. And it's just human nature to be optimistic, and to think things are going to turn out for the best. But it leaves you open for some terrible surprises once in a while, which is kind of sad, when you think about it. Government people in the disaster business and American Red Cross relief workers who deal with victims of these storms see this sense of surprise on people's faces all the time. A tornado watch or a warning? Don't confuse a watch with a warning. There is a big difference. Here is what they are about: Tornado watch: When National Weather Service forecasters issue a tornado watch, they are making a forecast that tornadoes are possible in your area. It's time to remain alert to signs of approaching storms and to make sure that you are prepared for an emergency. Tornado warning: This is an emergency message. A tornado has been sighted in your area, or weather radar indicates one is present. Now is the time to get to safety, to put your emergency plan into action. Tornado dos — and don'ts! The National Weather Service and the American Red Cross have put together these basic tips about tornado safety: Seek shelter immediately, preferably underground in a basement or in an interior room on the lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom. Stay away from windows. Get out of your car or your mobile home and seek shelter in a sturdy structure. In the open, lie flat in a ditch or depression. Protect your head from flying debris. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. Do not seek shelter under a bridge over overpass. The idea that these are safe shelters is just plain wrong.

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Environmental Science Oceans For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-12-2022

The ocean is big — really, really big — both as a body of water and as a topic. It encompasses physical characteristics, its ecosystems and inhabitants, its influence on climate and weather, the sustainable use of its resources, and much more. This Cheat Sheet touches on a few key topics.

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Environmental Science Environmental Science For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-07-2022

Environmental science is a field of study focused on Earth’s environment and the resources it provides to every living organism, including humans. Environmental scientists focus on studying the environment and everything in it and finding sustainable solutions to environmental issues. In particular, this means meeting the needs of human beings (and other organisms) today without damaging the environment, depleting resources, or compromising the earth’s ability to meet the resource needs of the future. A sustainable solution to an environmental problem must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and culturally acceptable. This Cheat Sheet summarizes some key aspects of what environmental scientists study.

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Environmental Science Climate Change For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-08-2022

This Cheat Sheet describes how and why greenhouse gases are formed, investigates some important global warming terms, uncovers the negative impacts of climate change, and offers solutions you can implement in your everyday life to alleviate rising greenhouse gas emissions. Although climate change is connected to ugly futures, melting icecaps, rising sea levels, soaring temperatures, worsening hurricanes and monsoons, and the list goes on, it’s also a link to a better future. Climate change is opening doors for the development of new types of fuels, leading the shift to reliable energy sources, and creating a vision of a greener tomorrow.

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Environmental Science Weather For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-01-2022

Who doesn’t talk about the weather? But, if you know the meanings of some key weather words, you can talk even more fluently. And clouds provide scope for imagination and help in predicting and anticipating weather changes.

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