Global Weather Systems Overview

Investigating Global Weather Systems
Overview

What is the difference in weather and climate?

Air masses are named based on their temperature and humidity which is influenced by where they formed.
Each air mass has a two part name

An air mass is a large collection of air with similar properties such as temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.

Air Masses

​Tropical	​Formed near equator	​air has warmer temperatures
​Polar	​Formed near poles	​air has cooler temperatures
​Maritime	​Formed over water/oceans	​air is humid, moist
​Continental	​Formed over land	​air is dry

Air Masses in North America

Multiple Choice

What would the name of a warm, humid air mass be?

• Continental Tropical

• Maritime Tropical

• Continental Polar

• Continental Tropical

Multiple Choice

What would the name of a cool, dry air mass be?

• Continental Tropical

• Maritime Tropical

• Continental Polar

• Maritime Polar

A high pressure system is caused by cool, , dry, dense air sinking. Surface winds will blow clockwise.
Weather will be fair with clear skies.

​​High Pressure

​A low pressure system is caused by moist, less dense, air rising. Surface winds will blow counterclockwise.
Weather will be stormy and cloudy.

​​Low Pressure

• moves quickly

• cold air mass pushing warm air mass

• Causes storms, precipitation, decrease in temp

Cold Front

• ​moves slower

• warm air mass pushing cold air mass

• Causes several days of clouds, precipitation, increase in temp

Warm Front

• warm air mass and cold air pass pushing towards each other, neither strong enough to push other away

• brings clouds, rain

Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

What type of front is moving through Texas?

• Cold Front

• Warm Front

• Stationary Front

• No front at all

Multiple Choice

Which weather system would result in clear skies and fair weather?

• Cold Front

• Warm Front

• High Pressure

• Low Pressure

• Two types: surface and deep

• The SUN drives these convection currents in the ocean

• Ocean Currents near the equator bring warm water to other areas. Those near the poles bring cold water.

• Ocean currents help to regulate climate and distribute heat by moving water

• Regions located near warm currents will have warmer climates. Regions near cold currents will have cooler climates.

Ocean Currents

• the apparent curvature of wind and ocean currents due to the rotation of the Earth

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The Coriolis Effect

Multiple Choice

Coastlines near WARM ocean currents will have warmer climates.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The apparent curvature of ocean currents and winds due to Earth's rotation is called...

• Plate Tectonics

• Gulf Coast Stream

• Prevailing Westerlies

• Coriolis Effect