Film Science Questions for The Day After Tomorrow

Background: a value of catastrophe movies is that they may encourage us to examine our own understandings, determination and values.

1. What do the opening scenes indicate about the amount of ice floating in the water?

2. Why was the scientist drilling into the Larsen B Ice Shelf?

3. What did the long, long crack in the ice shelf tell Dr. Jack Hall's research team?

4. The ice cores suggest a major climate change occurred how long ago?

5. What interests Vice President Becker more than the scientific predictions about weather?

6. What was so unusual about the weather in New Delhi?

7. Why were the astronauts on board the ISS so alarmed by the weather system over Florida?

8. Explain the severe turbulence Sam Hall encountered on the flight to New York City.

9. At this point, do people understand the cause of the extreme weather events?

10. Why were the animals in the zoo and the birds acting so strangely?

11. What alerts Dr. Terry Rapson to the reality of Dr. Hall's model?

12. Was the weather service responsible for the many lives lost in the Los Angeles tornados?

13. a) Dr. Hall's weather model is based on changes in the flow of what current?

b) Dr. Hall is convinced changes in this current are due to what?

c) With Dr. Rapson's ocean temperature data, his model predicts a major climate shift when?

14. Why did the evacuation helicopters traveling to Balmoral Castle to rescue the Royal Family crash?

15. Why did Dr Rapson need computer time?

16. What was surprising about the shape of the storm dumping all the snow across the British Isles?

17. What was a hygienic problem with the three days of rain falling in New York City?

18. If the Statue of Liberty is about 200 m tall, estimate the height of the storm surge that swamped Manhattan.

19. Why do things in the eye of the supercell freeze instantly?

20. Dr. Hall predicted the combined superstorms would have what effect on our planet's climate?

21. How did the President respond to Dr. Hall's concerns?

22. Why did the homeless man place pages from books on himself in the library?

23. Why was Laura Chapman disillusioned by the whole thing?

24. How has the superstorm changed the former Vice President's thinking about the environment?

25. Why did crew of the ISS see such clear air on Earth?