Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

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Please get a book and turn to page 83​!

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Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

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Can be Polar or Tropical

Can be Maritime or Continental

(can also be Arctic...but we will ignore those for our class purposes)​

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Air Masses

Poll

If I asked you to describe these four characteristics of air masses, how many would you likely get correct? (Polar, Tropical, Continental, Maritime)

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Continental = DRY

Maritime = WET​

​Continental vs Maritime

Polar = COLD

Tropical = WARM​

Polar vs Tropical

Characteristics of Air Masses

Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Multiple Choice

What is a POLAR air mass?

• Cold

• Warm

• Dry

• Wet

Multiple Choice

What is a CONTINENTAL air mass?

• Cold

• Warm

• Dry

• Wet

Multiple Choice

What is a TROPICAL air mass?

• Cold

• Warm

• Dry

• Wet

Multiple Choice

What is a MARITIME air mass?

• Cold

• Warm

• Dry

• Wet

Draw

Draw the symbol for a cold front.

Warm fronts are red lines with semi-circles.

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Cold fronts are blue lines with triangles.

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The direction the shapes point, ​is the direction they are moving.

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Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Front Map

A low pressure system is an area within the atmosphere where air is rising and winds blow toward the center.

A high pressure system is an area within the atmosphere where air is sinking and winds blow away from the center.​

Low Pressure and High Pressure Systems

​Read Section 3 (pg. 88)

Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

In a low pressure system, air whirls inward to replace air that is rising in the center. In a high pressure system, air whirls outward as it is pushed out by air that is sinking in the center. This rising and sinking of air can mean the difference between a cloudy, rainy day and a fair, sunny day..

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Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Open Ended

If the air pressure starts decreasing, what kind of weather might be approaching? Explain.

Read Section 4: Weather Reporting

Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Open Ended

List five elements of weather included in detailed weather forecasts.

Notice a few things on the map:

Isobars

Low Pressure Area

High Pressure Area

Cold Front

Warm Front​

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Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Read Section 5: Weather Maps

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​Use cause and effect to describe the weather patterns in three of the locations on the map.

(Choose any 3 and explain.)​

Open Ended

Explain the weather of three locations.

​Read Section 6: Tools of Weather Forecasting

Lesson 6: Air Masses and Changing Weather

Poll

How do you feel about this lesson?

• I understand everything!

• I feel fairly confident.

• I'm not sure...

• I know NOTHING.