Research Skills

The Dummies guide to

Dot and Jot, Notes and Paragraphs

What causes Tropical Cyclones?

We start by finding text that may answer our question

READ THIS…• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between

December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to evaporate in large quantities. The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind. As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in the condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger, eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com 2

What causesTropical Cyclones?Sometimes this is easier to understand by breaking it up.

• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to evaporate in large quantities.

• The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind.

• As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in the condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger, eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com3

Tropical Cyclones?Now we need to identify the important information

• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to evaporate in large quantities.

• The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis Effect, a result of the earths rotation, causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind.

• As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger, eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com 4

Dot and JotCOPY the important points into your Dot’n’Jot sheet.

• occur between December and March• between 5º and 15º south of the equator• at least 26ºc• The warmed water evaporates and rises• evaporated water rises in large columns• Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation• rotate in a clockwise • it creates a Low pressure• This creates wind• up even more evaporated air • air rises it releases the water as condensation• releases the latent heat• rotation speeds up• everything to happen faster• the Low pressure becomes stronger• eventually a Cyclone

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/095

Dot and Jot to NotesNow add words to make the notes into sentences.

Tropical Cyclones occur between December and March In an area between 5º and 15º south of the equator The water must reach at least 26ºc• The warmed water evaporates and rises The evaporated water rises in large columns The Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation Causes it to rotate in a clockwise manner This creates a Low pressure Zone The low attracts air which creates wind It attracts even more evaporated air As the air rises it releases the water as condensation It also releases the latent heat in the condensation The increased heat means the rotation speeds up Now everything to happen faster the Low pressure becomes stronger and eventually it becomes a Cyclone

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/09

6

Tropical Cyclones?SO THIS…

• Tropical Cyclones are caused by a number of factors. Most occur between December and March in the Southern hemisphere between 5º and 15º south of the equator. The sea water must reach at least 26ºc before it begins to evaporate in large quantities. The warmed water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. At this time of the year this area is very calm so the evaporated water rises in large columns. A process called the Coriolis Effect causes the columns of air to rotate in a clockwise manner. As the warm air rises it creates a Low pressure area beneath it causing air to be sucked in to fill the space. This creates wind. As the warm wind moves toward the Low it picks up even more evaporated air which strengthens the Low. As the warm wet air rises it releases the water as condensation creating clouds. This process also releases the latent heat in the condensation which also strengthens the Low. As it gets stronger the rotation speeds up causing everything to happen faster. More water is evaporated, winds become faster and the Low pressure becomes stronger, eventually becoming a storm and eventually a Cyclone.

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com

7

Dot and Jot to notes to Paragraph

BECOMES THIS…

Tropical Cyclones occur between December and March. In an area between 5º and 15º south of the equator. The water must reach at least 26ºc. The evaporated water rises in large columns. The Coriolis Effect , a result of the earths rotation. Causing it to rotate in a clockwise manner. This creates a Low pressure Zone. The low attracts air which creates wind. It attracts even more evaporated air. As the air rises it releases the water as condensation. It also releases the latent heat in the condensation. The rotation speeds up. Now everything to happen faster. The Low pressure becomes stronger and eventually it becomes a Cyclone

http://www.dummiesguidetodotandjot.com accessed 28/04/09

8