ON THIS DAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY - 7TH AUGUST

On this day in 1979, several tornadoes struck the city of Woodstock, Ontario in Canada. A tornado is am extreme, destructive, rotating column of air which descends from a thunderstorm down to the ground. No other extreme weather incident can match the frenzy and destructive power of tornadoes. A tornado can be strong enough to destroy large buildings, leaving only the bare concrete foundations.  The strength of a tornado is measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Scientists don’t fully understand how tornadoes form. A ‘parent super cell thunderstorm’ is needed to start a tornado. Some research suggests that it has to do with how strongly the wind changes direction along with height, how much moisture is in the air or the difference between the temperature of the surrounding air and the temperature of the cold down-drafts coming from the storm. 

SATROClub Extended Work Placement

Today, a student from Guildford College will be starting her SATROClub extended work placement, which will last for four weeks, at The Surrey Wildlife Trust. The trust is one of 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK. They are the UK's largest people-powered environmental organisation working for nature's recovery on land and at sea. They currently manage 82 sites, together covering almost 8,000ha, which is 5% of the land area of the county. They work with many partners and other landowners to advise on land management for conservation, with particular emphasis on woodland, wetlands, and heathland. Good luck on your placement, Lauren!