A Letter to Mother Earth

Dear Mother Earth,

                   It was a beautiful day and the children were playing tag. I was on the balcony, smiling as the cold breeze touches my skin. Suddenly, a butterfly filled with colors pink, blue, black and yellow landed onto my hand, it was beautiful, as beautiful as the bright, sunny clouds. I said 'hi' to the tiny creature then blew it away. Some moments I heard the birds singing with the flow of the wind. My messy, black hair danced with the tune of the music that had formed. The lake at the backyard splashed as the feet of the laughing kids stepped on it. But the water sounded good to my ears, and I swear, that moment was infinite. I stretched my hands and suddenly woke up from my wonderful dream. I can now hear the loud beeps from the cars outside my building. I look out of the window and see the big, black smoke from the bread company just some distance from where I am standing on. I look at the sky searching for some birds, instead, I see a plane faring to its destination. I walk out of my room and see my brother playing his latest iPad 5 that dad bought yesterday. I walk to the bathroom and look into the mirror. I sighed, thinking how far the world has gone, wishing that everything was just a nightmare.

                  You were so beautiful, Mother Earth. And it's been an honor for me, for everyone, to be a part of you. We were so innocent then, and as we were walking through our life journey from day to day, we had been discovering things. We invented these, we invented those. We built here, we built there. And I can say that the growth of modernization has been so rapid. Now, you are filled with technologies, stuff that have been giving benefits to your dwellers, but have been an endless catastrophe to thee. And for all of this, I feel sorry for you.

                  I would like to take a moment thanking you for being our habitat since the threshold. If not for your existence, our existence would also have been impossible. Without you, where would we be now? We would be out of nowhere. So thank you, you deserve a massive thank you from everyone.

For all of what you've done to us, we've been a disaster to you. And I'm afraid now that you seem to be having your revenge. But before anything else happens, I would like to say sorry. Sorry for destructing every little part of you. Sorry if we were too busy discovering new things to remember that you were suffering because of our movements. But this I promise, I will never join those harsh dwellers of you. I will not again do something that, I know, will hurt you. I will be one of those people who live to take care of you; and not to ruin your beauty, until I perish in your arms.

                  I go back to my bed and lay down. Silently looking at the ceiling, thinking that maybe it is not too late. I close my eyes and draw the beautiful world in my vision. Maybe one day, someday, the world will be as beautiful as before. As beautiful as of in my dream. Then I whisper: hug me Mother Earth, so I will be safe and sound.

Your Loving Child ,   

   Lyka Mae P. Chiang

Storm Signals

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 1 when winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours. Signal no. 2 when winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours. Signal no. 3 winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. Very strong winds are coming generally from the north. signal no. 4 when very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. With storm signal no. 4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced.
2. I want to know more about the formation of a typhoon and the factors that affect the signal no. of an area.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is experiencing typhoon of any signal no.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal nos.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing typhoon.

Storm Signal No. 4

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 4 when very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. With storm signal no. 4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced. This means that the eye of the typhoon is over the locality. This improved weather may last for one to two hours depending on the diameter of the eye and the speed of movement. As the eye moves out of the locality, the worst weather experienced before the lull will suddenly commence. This time the very strong winds will come generally from the south.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 3 turns into signal no. 4 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under such worst condition.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 4.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 4.

Storm Signal No. 2

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 2 when winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 1 turns into signal no. 2 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 2.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 2.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 2.

Storm Signal No. 3

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 3 when winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. People should watch out for the passage of the "eye" of the typhoon indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather immediately after very bad weather with very strong winds coming generally from the north.
2. I want to know more how a storm signal no. 2 turns into signal no. 3 and its effect on the country.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 3.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 3.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 3.

Storm Signal No. 1

1. I learned that an area is under storm signal no. 1 when winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours.
2. I want to know more about the causes and effects of storm signal no. 1.
3. I would like to research on the different precautionary measures that I can be used when our area is under storm signal no. 1.
4. I appreciate the fact that there is a weather agency in the Philippines (PAGASA) that informs the countrymen when there is a storm forming near the country and announces the areas that are under the storm signal no. 1.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country esp. when we are experiencing storm signal no. 1.

Fujiwhara Effect

1. I learned that Fujiwhara Effect is a binary interaction where tropical cyclones within a certain distance (300-750 nautical miles depending on the sizes of the cyclones) of each other begin to rotate about a common midpoint. In 1921, a Japanese meteorologist named Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara determined that two storms will sometimes move around a common center pivot point.

2. I want to know more about the formation of the said phenomenon.

3. I would like to research on the different effects of the Fujiwhara Effect in the weather of the country and the different weather  instruments that can be used to detect the incoming of such phenomenon.

4. I appreciate the fact that there are meteorologist and weather agencies that are willing to study about the mentioned phenomenon so that if such would get into the country, people will be informed.

5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather of the country esp. if there will be a Fujiwhara Effect that will form in the country.

Tail-end of Cold Front

1. I learned that the Tail-end of a Cold Front is a front boundary of 2 air masses, which is found in a middle latitude. It causes too much rainfall and cloudiness over affected areas and usually occurs on the Northern portion of the country during the Northern Hemisphere in a winter season. It is defined wherein the cooler mass of air used to replace the warmer mass of air, which results to a lower pressure in that surface. It is a phenomenon wherein it can experience a change in a temperature.

2. I want to know more about the formation of tail-end of a cold front; how it forms and what are the factors that affects its formation.

3.  I would like to research on its relation on the different phenomena of the country such as typhoon, tropical depression, etc., and if it affects the condition of the mentioned phenomena. Moreover, I would like to know about how PAGASA detects if there is a tail-end of cold front forming in our country and what weather instruments they are using for detecting.

4. I appreciate the fact that I gain a knowledge about an important weather-related system on our country.

5. I can apply me learning and insights in understanding the weather of our country.

Tropical Depression

1. I learned that once a group of thunderstorms has come together under the right atmospheric conditions for a long enough time, they may organize into a tropical depression. Winds near the center are constantly between 20 and 34 knots (23 - 39 mph). A tropical depression is designated when the first appearance of a lowered pressure and organized circulation in the center of the thunderstorm complex occurs. A surface pressure chart will reveal at least one closed isobar to reflect this lowering.
2. I want to know more about the processes that have been done for its formation.
3. I would like to research on the places that are usually affected of the said phenomenon and the month that it usually happens in our country.
4. I appreciate the fact that there are Philippine institutions like PAGASA that observes the condition of the weather so they would also know if there will be a tropical depression formation.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the condition of our weather especially when it is a rainy season.

El Niño

1. I learned that El Niño is an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, is one part of what's called the Southern Oscillation. The Southern Oscillation is the see-saw pattern of reversing surface air pressure between the eastern and western tropical Pacific; when the surface pressure is high in the eastern tropical Pacific it is low in the western tropical Pacific, and vice-versa.
2. I want to know more about the formation of El Niño and how it affects the weather condition of the country.
3. I would like to research on its effect on the daily life of a person by answering theses questions: (1) Does it affect the crops of the farmers that a person eats to survive? (2) Is having it would cause typhoon that sometimes leads to flood?
4. I appreciate the fact that there are meteorologists who observe the condition of it so if it occurs, the community will be informed and have them prepared.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in having knowledge about the weather of our country. In case an El Niño occurs, I have some knowledge about it.

La Niña

1. I learned that La Niña is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the trade winds are unusually strong due to an enhanced pressure gradient between the eastern and western Pacific. As a result, upwelling is enhanced along the coast of South America, contributing to colder than normal surface waters over the eastern tropical Pacific and warmer than normal surface waters in the western tropical Pacific.
2. I want to know more about the mentioned phenomenon like how it forms and how it affects the weather of a certain country. Also, when it is usually occurs and the places that are affected.
3. I would like to research on the relation of La Niña with other phenomena such as El Niño, tropical depression and typhoon. Also, if it has effects on the condition of daily living of a person, like, its effects on crops of farmers, on the water level of the country and others.
4. I appreciate the fact that researchers spent their precious time to research  about the said phenomenon. And until now, there are those meteorologists that are willing to watch the condition of it so they could report if a La Niña will happen soon.
5. I can apply my learning and insights in knowing the condition of the weather of the country and in our classes in case it will be discussed.

Monsoon

1. I learned that monsoon is the seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea.

2. I want to know more about the major monsoon systems of the world and how it formed. Also, the relation of it with the International Convergence Zone.

3. I would like to research on the effects of monsoon in the country's weather and other phenomenon such as typhoons, storms, etc.

4. I appreciate the fact that there are institutions like PAGASA that helps and informs us about the monsoons in our country so we can be aware of the weather changes.

5. I can apply my learning and insights in our classes when the topic being discussed is about monsoon.

Intertropical Convergence Zone

1. I learned that Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemisphere meet.

2. I want to know more about the role of ITCZ and how it affects the weather in different countries and regions of the earth.

3. I would like to research on the formation of tropical cyclones in the ITCZ. And so I could answer the questions "how do tropical cyclones formed?" and "what are the processes involved in tropical cyclones formation?"

4. I appreciate the fact that there are meteorologists and agencies like Philippines Atmospheric, Geological, Physical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) that are willing to study on the condition of ITCZ so people are informed whenever tropical cyclone may occur.

5. I can apply my learning and insights in understanding the weather condition of our country.