Weather Patterns

Is there a pattern in the relationship between starting air temperature and parcel height? Check your Simulating Rainstorms worksheet.

• Yes, the higher starting air temperature means the higher the parcel height.

• No, there is no relationship between starting air temperature and parcel height.

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-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What do the yellow arrows represent in the image?

• Air parcel LOSING energy as it rises in the troposphere and cools.

• Air parcel GAINING energy as it lowers in the troposphere and warms.

• Air parcel GAINING energy as it rises in the troposphere and cools.

• Air parcel LOSING energy as it lowers in the troposphere and warms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which parcel will rise higher?

• Parcel A

• Parcel B

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which parcel will lose more energy?

• Parcel A

• Parcel B

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

If Parcel A and Parcel B have the same amount of water vapor at the surface, which one would have more rainfall?

• Parcel A

• Parcel B

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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 the air parcel moved higher, it lost more energy.

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

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What could have caused Storm 2 to have more rainfall than Storm 1? Before Storm 2, Jamestown could have been...

• Storm 2 could have been WARMER than Storm 1.

• Storm 2 could have been COOLER than Storm 1

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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

• Storm 2 could have been COOLER.

• Storm 2 could have been WARMER.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

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-ESS2-5