What Is a Thermal, and How Do Hawks Ride One?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What is a thermal, and how do hawks ride one?

The Big Idea

Hawks and vultures circle high in the sky without flapping. They are riding invisible elevators. They are called thermals!

Warm Air Rises

Step one: warm air rises. A thermal is a rising column of warm air. Sunlight heats the ground, the ground warms the air above it, and the warm air floats upward.

Circle to Climb

Step two: circle to climb. A hawk or vulture holds its wings out wide and circles inside the rising air. It gains height with almost no flapping.

Glide On

Step three: glide on. When it is high enough, it glides in a straight line to the next thermal. Gliders and hang-glider pilots also use thermals.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The Sun warms the ground. The air above it rises. A hawk circles inside. Then it glides to the next one.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Gliders and hang-glider pilots also use thermals. Sunny ground makes the best ones. Hawks circle inside the rising air. They glide straight to the next thermal.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! On a warm, sunny day, watch for birds circling high in the sky. Do they flap or just glide? Draw their path. Mark where you think the thermal is. Then explain what you learned to a friend.

Outro

Hawks ride thermals, which are columns of rising warm air, to gain height with almost no flapping. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Next time you see this in real life, remember what you learned today and smile! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!