RFMS Science: Tracking Storms & H/L Pressure

Tracking Storms & High/Low Air Pressure

​While waiting for the lesson to begin, please complete the following:
1) Make sure you have an Expo marker, pencil, and C49-C50 out and ready to go.
2) Keep this page open, but open another tab to Archie's Padlet.
3) You are working on Evidence from Storm #2!

Recap

We tracked a snow storm that happened last January! Discuss these questions as a group:
1) How did you recognize different air masses within the maps (what differences were you looking for?
2) Do air masses move? What is your evidence?
3) What are the boundaries between air masses called?

Let's investigate!

We have talked previously about how storms can and would impact the arctic tern flight path. Let's see just how that would happen.

Keep this tab open but click into Archie's Padlet. Find this column and click into the language of the article that you need (English, Spanish, Arabic).

You may read individually or as a group. Each student in your group is responsible for a minimum of two pieces of information (can't be the same as your group) from the article to explain how storms impact migration. You will write these on your desk with Expo or on a blank sheet of paper. You will be timed, so make sure you're focused!

Open Ended

Type in ONE piece of information that shares how storms impact arctic tern migration (spelling does not count).

Up Next:

Tracking storms!

In our last lesson, we tracked a storm in a specific location (Smyrna). Today, we are going to look at three different storms happening around the United States.

Discuss the questions below as a group:
Would you expect weather forecasts for other parts of the country from different times of the year to show evidence of any of the following?

-Large-scale air masses moving

-Frontal boundaries between those air masses producing lines of clouds and precipitation

-Areas of lower air pressure within or between different air masses

​Storm #1

​As you are observing the storm forecast, write at least one observation (this is your evidence) for each box.

Also, please click into Archie's Padlet, find the Tracking Storms column, and click on Storm #1 information. The pictures shown are stills (pictures) of the forecast. Pay attention to the weather map and the text on the pictures and in the forecast. Storm #1A is happening first, and then Storm #1B will happen next.

​Write each piece of evidence & any questions you have here:

​Storm #2

​As you are observing the storm forecast, write at least one observation (this is your evidence) for each box.

Also, please click into Archie's Padlet, find the Tracking Storms column, and click on Storm #2 information. The pictures shown are stills (pictures) of the forecast. Pay attention to the weather map and the text on the pictures and in the forecast. Storm #2A is happening first, and then Storm #2B will happen next.

​Write each piece of evidence & any questions you have here:

​Storm #3

​As you are observing the storm forecast, write at least one observation (this is your evidence) for each box.

Also, please click into Archie's Padlet, find the Tracking Storms column, and click on Storm #3 information. The pictures shown are stills (pictures) of the forecast. Pay attention to the weather map and the text on the pictures and in the forecast. Storm #3A is happening first, and then Storm #3B will happen next.

​Write each piece of evidence & any questions you have here:

What did you notice?

Discuss your I Wonder statements & any questions you may have.

Then, discuss the answers to these questions below:
1) What did you notice was in all of the storm forecasts?
2) What symbols did you recognize on the map?
3) What weather was predicted for each storm?

High & Low Pressure

Discuss this: we saw lots of low pressure symbols throughout the three forecasts we watched. Why do you think that is? What does low pressure bring? What does high pressure bring?

Your teacher will be showing you a video all about how pilots use high and low pressure to fly properly.

Use your Expo and your desk/pencil and piece of notebook paper that we used previously to write at least two pieces of information about high and low pressure.

Parts 2 & 3

Work as a table to complete Parts 2 & 3. The diagrams for Part 2 are to the right. Hint for Part 3: there are five H statements & 5 L statements. You are being timed, so make sure you are making forward progress!

​Diagram A

​Diagram B

You should have at least two of these listed:
-particles are moving further apart, which shows a temperature increase (warmer)
-cloudy
-air is moving up towards the sky which is creating clouds & precipitation

You should have at least two of these listed:
-particles are moving closer together, which shows a temperature decrease (cooler)
-fair weather
-air is moving downward towards the ground, which allows the ground to dry out and the weather to be calm

Multiple Choice

Thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes form at __________ pressure systems, where you have warm (typically moist/humid) air quickly rising.

• low

• high

Multiple Choice

Thunderstorms form along a cold front

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

How does a low pressure day compare to a high pressure day?

• High pressure days signal fair weather and low pressure days signal stormy weather.

• Low pressure days only occur during the summer months.

• High pressure days signal stormy weather and low pressure days signal fair weather.

• Low pressure days only occur during the coldest months of the winter.

Multiple Choice

Which type of front is pictured?

• Cold front

• Warm front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

Which type of front is pictured?

• Cold front

• Warm front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

Which type of front is pictured?

• Cold front

• Warm front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

Which type of front is pictured?

• Cold front

• Warm front

• Occluded Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

A front is ________________.

• the beginning of a storm that brings strong wind and heavy rain.

• an imaginary line that shows the location of different convection cells.

• a boundary between air masses with different moisture content and temperatures meet.

• the location in which two clouds collide, causing lightning.

Multiple Choice

What types of air masses form over oceans?

• Maritime

• Continental

Multiple Choice

What types of air masses form over land?

• Maritime

• Continental

Multiple Choice

Which system produces clear, cool weather?

• high pressure system

• low pressure system

Multiple Choice

Which system produces cloudy and lots of precipitation?

• high pressure system

• low pressure system