Saffir–Simpson scale

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/saffirsimpson-scale

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the founders?Herbert Saffir (engineer) and Bob Simpson (meteorologist)
2. What is the geographic scope?Officially applies to Atlantic and Northeast Pacific tropical cyclones
3. How do scientists measure the wind speed for the scale?They look at the highest wind speeds over a one‑minute period, taken 10 meters above the ground. Data comes from planes flying into the storm and from satellite pictures. The numbers are rounded to the nearest 5 mph or 5 km/h.
4. Why do people use the Saffir–Simpson scale?It gives a clear, easy‑to‑understand number that tells how strong a hurricane is. The scale helps warn people, decide when to evacuate, and plan emergency help. A higher number means stronger winds and more damage.

Tropical Cyclone Intensity: The measure of a tropical cyclone's strength, primarily based on its maximum sustained wind speed.
Sustained Wind Speed: The average wind speed over a specified period (one minute for SSHWS), excluding gusts.
Storm Surge: An abnormal rise in sea level caused by a storm's winds pushing water ashore, often the most dangerous aspect of a hurricane.