Weather Introduction

Weather Introduction

Convection Currents

• Earth’s Mantle

  Convection currents flow within the mantle

• Causes the tectonic plates to move

• Less dense hot magma moves upward

• More dense cooler magma moves downward

Multiple Select

Select all that are true of convection currents:

• They flow in the mantle

• The cause plate tectonics

• less dense hot magma moves upward

• More dense cooler magma moves downward

Earth’s Ocean Currents

• Ocean Currents are caused by the uneven heating of the sun

• The sun heats the equator directly

• The water near the equator is warm and less dense so it rises and the water near the poles are cool more dense so it sinks.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is correct?

• The sun heats the equator directly.

• The sun heats the equator indirectly.

Earth’s Atmosphere

• Solar radiation heats the Earth’s surface unevenly

• That heat is transferred to the air by conduction

• Air touching the Earth’s surface expands, becomes less dense and rises.

Multiple Choice

How is heat transferred to the air?

• That heat is transferred to the air by conduction

• That heat is transferred to the air by convection

• That heat is transferred to the air by radiation

• That heat is transferred to the air by flowing

High Pressure vs Low Pressure

• As air masses cool, they becomes more dense and sinks toward the Earth’s surface.

• As air masses warm, they becomes less dense and rises above the Earth’s surface

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true about pressure?

• As air masses warm, they becomes less dense and rises above the Earth’s surface

• As air masses cool, they becomes less dense and rises above the Earth’s surface

• As air masses warm, they becomes more dense and sinks toward the Earth’s surface.

• As air masses cool, they becomes more less and sinks toward the Earth’s surface.

Air Masses

• A large body of air that has relatively uniform temperature and humidity.

• Originate over land (Continental)   over water (Maritime).

• Cold air masses tend to approach from the poles.

• Warm air masses tend to approach from the equator.

Multiple Choice

How do we characterize an air mass that forms over the ocean?

• Dry

• Wet

• Cold

• Warm

Multiple Choice

How do we characterize an air mass that forms over near the equator?

• Dry

• Wet

• Cold

• Warm

Multiple Choice

How do we characterize an air mass that forms over the ocean?

• Dry

• Wet

• Cold

• Warm

Multiple Choice

How do we characterize an air mass that forms near the poles?

• Dry

• Wet

• Warm

• Cold

Multiple Choice

What types of air masses form over oceans?

• Maritime

• Continental

• Polar

• Tropical

Multiple Choice

A dry and hot air mass would be...

• Maritime arctic

• Maritime tropical

• Continental tropical

• Continental polar

Multiple Choice

Which type of air would you find at air mass D?

• cold, dry

• warm, humid

• warm, dry

• cold, humid

Multiple Choice

Which type of air would you find at air mass C?

• cold, dry

• warm, humid

• warm, dry

• cold, humid

Multiple Choice

A wet and cold air mass would be a...

• Maritime polar
• Continental polar
• Maritime tropical
• Continental tropical

Multiple Choice

A dry and cold air mass would be...

• Maritime polar
• Continental polar
• Maritime tropical
• Continental tropical

Multiple Choice

Which type of air would you find at air mass B?

• cold, dry

• warm, humid

• warm, dry

• cold, humid

Multiple Choice

Which type of air would you find at air mass A?

• cold, dry

• warm, humid

• warm, dry

• cold, humid

Front

• The boundary between two air masses.

• Classified by which type of air mass (cold or warm) is replacing the other.

• Map symbols point in direction front is moving.

Warm Front

• A warm air mass is replacing a cold air mass.

• Air behind the front is warm and moist.

• Pressure goes down (L)

• Slow moving, gradual rise of warm air over cold air.

• Widespread, continuous light rain along and ahead of the front.

Multiple Choice

A warm front...

• replaces warm air with cool air

• replaces cool air with warm air

Multiple Choice

Name that symbol.

• Cold Front

• Warm Front

• Stationary Front

• Occluded Front

Multiple Choice

During a warm front you are likely to experience...

• Thunderstorm

• Light drizzle

• Sunny Weather

Cold Front

• A cold air mass is replacing a warm air mass.

• Air behind the front is colder and drier.

• Pressure increases (H)

• Moist air is pushed up over the cold air.

• Showers and thunderstorms form along leading edge of front.

Multiple Choice

During a cold front you are likely to experience...

• Thunderstorm

• Light drizzle

• Sunny Weather

Multiple Choice

Name that symbol.

• Cold Front

• Warm Front

• Stationary Front

• Occluded Front

Stationary Front

• A warm and cold air mass meet trying to move in opposite directions
• Neither is moved
• Heavy storms & precipitation can last for days

Multiple Choice

True or False: Stationary fronts try to move in the opposite direction, while occluded fronts move in the same direction

• True

• False

Occluded Front

• A warm air mass is caught between 2 cold air masses
• Cold air masses rise over the warmer
• Strong winds and heavy precipitation result

Multiple Choice

All fronts are associated with which pressure system?

• High

• Low

Multiple Select

Which front causes precipitation? (Check all that apply)

• Cold

• Warm

• Stationary

• Occluded