Ages 7 to 14 years. According to Greek mythology, two sea-monsters named Charybdis and Scylla created treacherous whirlpools by spewing out the water of the sea. Charybdis and Scylla waited on either side of the narrow Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy, and satisfied their hunger by swallowing passing ships. Today, meteorologists know that extreme ocean storms are caused by weather patterns and conditions. Ocean Storm Alert! explores how whirlpools, tidal waves, and tsunamis begin, and their effect on people at sea and in coastal areas. Topics include: Famous storms throughout history including the El Nino/La Nina storms of the Pacific region; How ancient peoples forecasted storms, and the technology that meteorologists use to predict weather today, such as Doppler radar; Techniques to stay safe during a storm, and how to avoid getting caught in unsafe weather conditions; The recovery from ocean storms when they reach land, and the large-scale environmental effects of storms; The physical and geographical pattern of storms around the world.