Chapter 12

The Great Plains and Prairies

The warm, moist air masses this area experiences from the south and cool, dry air from the north uninterrupted as they cross the treeless level causes extreme weather. Contrasting air masses clash and create thunderstorms and tornadoes. Louisiana also experiences similar extreme weather in the form of hurricanes and tornadoes.

 

March 2011, Rayne, Louisiana was hit by an EF2 (Enhanced Fujita scale rates the strength of tornadoes). The wind speed of an EF2 tornado has an estimated wind speed of 111 to 135 mph and it is classified as strong. 

Louisiana is the third largest producer of petroleum and supplies just over one-quarter of natural gas in the U.S. Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are leading suppliers of natural gas and petroleum. Wyoming is also a major petroleum producer. Louisiana is not a major producer of cattle, wheat and sorghum like the states in the Great Plains and Prairies.

Sources:

http://blog.vivint.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/TornadoAlertsMappart11.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo/9355490-large.jpg

http://doa.louisiana.gov/about_economy.htm

http://futurespress.com/imgndoc/LAF/Wheat%20-%20Regions.jpg

http://bioweb.sungrant.org/NR/rdonlyres/0BFF1FE5-E340-43B6-9CE3-B301465C913E/0/MiscFig5Sorghum.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywafhUZWmMEdV8ITcyJ1KEeQ_W6gkCw4yyE9JGduVRW9L2GGZMCsjuV8TodAC877n8IQnNtFBxGyWz2fJyHHVvpRjdpAZVAbxddp2fEukAWi-zjrUzki3D08W2ABX1M9rJahYFM7wMw0/s400/US+top+10+Beef+Cow+states.JPG