Amplify Lesson Weather Patterns

Day 1 and Day 2 in Greenville started with the same amount of water vapor in the air parcels there. It rained at the end of Day 2 but it did not rain at the end of Day 1.

What could have happened to the air parcel to cause rainfall on Day 2?

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air, so it lost energy.

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air, so it gained energy.

• The air parcel was at the same low temperature as the surrounding air, so it had low energy.

• The air parcel was cooler than the surrounding air, so it gained energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

There were two rainstorms in Marion last month. Before Storm 1, Marion’s temperature at the surface was 26°C. Before Storm 2, the air temperature at the surface was 14°C. The temperature of areas surrounding Marion was the same before both storms.

Which storm is likely to have had more rainfall?

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when it moved higher, it lost more energy.

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when cooler air from above came down, it lost more energy.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so when it moved higher, it gained more energy.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so with low energy it remained near the surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Rochelle had two rainstorms in February. Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2. The temperature of the surrounding areas was the same before both storms.

What conditions could have caused Storm 1 to have more rainfall than Storm 2?

Before Storm 1, Rochelle could have been:

• warmer than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed more water vapor out of the warmer air parcel.

• warmer than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed the warmer air parcel even higher and the air parcel lost more energy.

• cooler than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind caused the cooler air from above the air parcel to move down, causing the cooler air parcel at the surface to lose more energy.

• cooler than before Storm 2 and windy. Wind pushed the cooler air parcel even higher and the air parcel gained more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Air Parcel 1 is the same temperature as the surrounding air. Air parcel 2 is warmer than the surrounding air. Air Parcel 1 and Air Parcel 2 started with the same amount of water vapor in them.

Which air parcel will have more rainfall and why?

• Both air parcels will have the same amount of rain. They have the same surrounding air temperature, so the same amount of water vapor will fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 1 is colder than Air Parcel 2, so more water vapor will fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 2 will gain energy from the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 2 will lose energy to the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The town of San Angelo had two rainstorms in July. Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2. The temperature of the surrounding areas was the same before both storms.

What could explain why Storm 1 had more rainfall than Storm 2?

Before Storm 1, the air parcel at the surface could have been:

• warmer, so when the air parcel moved higher, it lost more energy.

• warmer, so when cooler air from above moved down, it lost more energy.

• cooler, so when the air parcel moved higher, it gained more energy.

• cooler, so the air parcel had low energy and remained near the surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

There were two rainstorms in Sinan last month. Before Storm 1, Sinan’s temperature was 30°C. Before Storm 2, the temperature was 15°C. Before both storms, the temperature of the surrounding areas was the same and wind was blowing toward Sinan. There was the same amount of water vapor before Storm 1 and Storm 2.

Which storm likely had more rainfall?

• Storm 1. Wind pushed more water vapor out of the warmer air parcel.

• Storm 1. Wind pushed the warmer air parcel even higher and the air parcel lost more energy.

• Storm 2. Wind caused cooler air from above the air parcel to move down, causing the air parcel at the surface to lose more energy.

• Storm 2. The cooler air parcel had less energy at the surface, so when wind pushed it higher, it gained more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Day 1 and Day 2 in Kokomo started with the same amount of water vapor in the air parcels over Kokomo. It rained at the end of Day 1 but it did not rain at the end of Day 2.

What could have happened to the air parcel to cause rainfall on Day 1?

• The air parcel was at the same low temperature as the surrounding air, so it had low energy.

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air, so it gained energy.

• The air parcel was warmer than the surrounding air, so it lost energy.

• The air parcel was cooler than the surrounding air, so it gained energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

There were two rainstorms in Chateh last month. Before Storm 1, Chateh’s temperature at the surface was 19°C. Before Storm 2, the air temperature at the surface was 28°C. The temperature of areas surrounding Chateh was the same before both storms.

Which storm likely had more rainfall?

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so when it moved higher, it gained more energy.

• Storm 1. The air parcel at the surface was cooler and had less energy, so with low energy it remained near the surface.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when cooler air from above came down, it lost more energy.

• Storm 2. The air parcel at the surface was warmer and had more energy, so when it moved higher, it lost more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Jamestown had two rainstorms in July. Storm 2 had more rainfall than Storm 1. The temperature of the surrounding areas was the same before both storms.

What could have caused Storm 2 to have more rainfall than Storm 1?

Before Storm 2, Jamestown could have been:

• cooler than before Storm 1 and windy. Wind pushed the cooler air parcel even higher and the air parcel gained more energy.

• cooler than before Storm 1 and windy. Wind caused the cooler air from above the air parcel to move down, causing the cooler air parcel at the surface to lose more energy.

• warmer than before Storm 1 and windy. Wind pushed more water vapor out of the warmer air parcel.

• warmer than before Storm 1 and windy. Wind pushed the warmer air parcel even higher and the air parcel lost more energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Air Parcel 1 is warmer than the surrounding air. Air Parcel 2 is at the same temperature as the surrounding air. Air Parcel 1 and Air Parcel 2 started with the same amount of water vapor in them.

Which air parcel will have more rainfall and why?

• Both air parcels will have the same amount of rain. They have the same surrounding air temperature, so the same amount of water vapor will fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 1 will lose more energy to the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 1 will gain energy from the surrounding air, which will cause more water vapor to fall as rain.

• Air Parcel 2 is colder than Air Parcel 1, so more water vapor will fall as rain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5