Reading Journal 6: Wild Weather: UK is the world "tornado alley"

          In the article, the writer - Dr Sylvia Knight, Head of Education, Royal Meteorological Society - gave some information about the place where most tornadoes happen: the U.K. Normally, many people think the U.S is the country which most of tornadoes occur, because there are over 1.000 tornadoes every year. Although the tornadoes in US occur over a mile wide, the U.K or the Netherlands is the place where has more tornadoes than anywhere on the world, of course, almost them are weak. The writer explained the tornado form when the the warm, moist air meets the cold, dry air and begins rotating. Almost tornadoes do not move very fast, but few of them move very quick, up to 300 miles per hour.

         After reading this article, I think nature is very harsh. Although tornado do not damage as much as earthquake or tsunami, it is still a disaster. It influences to people lives, and damages the human's properties, even loss of the lives. Comparing to nature, human are too small, we can not avoid the damage of nature.

        Things I learned through the reading: :"tornado alley", "whereas", "swirl", "gust", "swathe", "lamppost", "cumulonimbus"

          Some pictures about tornadoes:

Tornado

Reading Journal 5: Japan Earthquake: Huge Relief Mission Launched

          In the article "Japan Earthquake: Huge Relief Mission Launched", the writer described about one of the most terrible earthquake on the world occurred in Japan in 2011. According to the police, there were about 500 people who have died and lots of people have missed in a 9,2 richer at Honshu island - north east of Tokyo. It made lots of people lost their homes and it made at least five nuclear reactors in emergency, but the government said that there was not lead to a serious disaster. One of the most damaged nuclear reactor was the Fukushima. Many countries sent their rescue teams to Japan to help the citizens overcome this disaster. This earthquake damaged many things like houses, factories, railroad, building, dam, fields, and the port of Sendai city. This earthquake give many alert about tsunami to many countries in Asia,  Pacific, North and South America.

         After reading this article, I condole with Japanese. I think earthquake and tsunami is the most terrible disaster which people have ever known. I remember on the day this disaster occurred in Japan, I was eating dinner with my parents, and I watched the news on TV, I could not believe in my eyes. The tsunami washed away many big, very big ship into the coast. It was so terrible. I wished God save their soul. One year from that date, I know that the Japanese are overcoming the damage of disaster, and I admire their spirit. They are never give up. That's a very good characteristic which I need to learn from Japanese.

         Things I learned from the reading: "mammoth", "meltdown", "devastate", "worst-hit", "prefecture".

       

          Link of article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720489

Reading Journal 4: Land of Fire and Ice

              In the article "Land of Fire and Ice", the author described about Iceland, a part of Atlantic Ocean, wells up through the rifts along the ridge. This is a city of culture because its capital has been known with colorful and stylish architecture. The weather in here is so awesome, it is about 4 degrees in winter and it gets 22 hours of daylight in summer. That's so great to enjoy the outside activities. Over one third of Iceland's 40,000 square miles is volcanically active and load with lava fields. Magma too far below the surface to create volcanoes heats the rocks above, sending the heat groundwater to the surface in the form of "hot springs". The most famous hot springs is Blue Lagoon which receives more than 300,000 visitors a year. Besides this, Iceland is popular in caves like Vatnajokull - a vast layer of ice cave - and monsters huge rock. Finally, Golden Circle is a destination of trip to Iceland. This a place which is a pathway connects Golden Waterfall, hot springs Geysir, and Thingvellir National Park. 

            After reading this article, I know that Iceland is far enough north so that it should be entirely covered by ice and snow. The heat generated by the ridge; however, keeps the country in a constant stage of thaw, distinguishing it as the land of Fire and Ice. Besides, I know more about a very beautiful place in the world. I wish I can visit this place in the future. 

            Things I learned through the reading: "tension" , "thermal", "glacier", "fault".