8U4L3b How to Predict Weather Intro

8U4L3b How to Predict Weather Intro

Poll

How do you feel about the weather stuff you have learned so far?

• I know it!

• I get some of it, but need practice

• I'm confused

• We're studying weather?

Let's see what you know!!

Multiple Choice

How does the air get warmed up on earth?

• The sun hits the air and warms it.

• The sun warms the ground and the ground warms the air above it.

• The heat comes from the magma within the earth.

• Humans heat up the air.

Multiple Choice

The sun warms the earth evenly.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

When a warm air mass overtakes a cool air mass, creating light rain - it is a:

• Warm Front

• Cold Front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

When a cold air mass catches up to a warm air mass, pushing it up and creating thunderstorms - it is a:

• Warm Front

• Cold Front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

An important part of weather is Air Pressure

Air Pressure is measured with an instrument called a Barometer.

We measure pressure in millibars

Standard air pressure is about 1013 millibars. If pressure is higher than that, the area is considered a "High Pressure Air Mass"

High Pressure Air Masses are Happy

We like to think of H for HIGH pressure being an area where the weather is HAPPY (both high and happy start with an H in English!). This includes sunshine, very little clouds, and mild weather!

Low Pressure Air Masses Give Us Lousy Weather

When the pressure is low, the air rises up, creating more wind, more clouds, and more stormy weather.

Multiple Choice

Sunny, dry weather comes from:

• High Pressure Air Masses

• Low Pressure Air Masses

• Cold Fronts

• Stationary Fronts

Multiple Choice

Windy, stormy weather is associated with:

• Low Pressure Systems

• High Pressure Systems

Sudden drops in Air Pressure...

This means a big storm is coming! The more the pressure drops, the stronger the storm!

Multiple Choice

Which of these scenarios is a storm coming?

• Pressure going from 1013mb to 1020mb

• Pressure going from 1002mb to 970 mb

Multiple Choice

Which scenario shows a stronger storm coming?

• Pressure drops from 1002mb to 970mb

• Pressure drops from 998mb to 980mb

Poll

What else do you think is important when you are forecasting weather?

• The temperature outside

• The amount of water (or humidity) in the air

• What part of the earth you are talking about

• What land formations are near your area

All of these are important!

Where you are - with its land formations like mountains or prairies, how close you are to the equator, and if you are near the ocean or not play a big role in weather.

When talking about local weather...

Humidity is a very important part of our local weather.

Multiple Choice

In Boston, the more humid it is, the more likely it is to rain.

• True

• False

The higher the percentage of water in the air...

...the higher the humidity percentage. Humidity is involved with a lot of different weather, but you need a high humidity for it to rain!

Multiple Choice

High humidity means there is very little water in the air.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Humidity is

• The amount of water in the air

• The amount of rain that fell

• The amount of pressure in the air

• The amount of weather around you

Poll

How much did you learn about pressure and humidity today?

• None

• I already knew this stuff from 6th grade science

• A little, I need more practice

• I think I got it, let's put it to use!