Weather Maps

1. Weather Maps Today, you are highlighting everything in ORANGE

2. Weather maps are used to show current weather conditions in an effort to predict future weather conditions. Talk to your elbow partner. Why is weather prediction important? Give examples. Weather Maps

3. Cold Fronts Cold, dense air is moving toward warm, less dense air. The warm air is pushed up to cool and form clouds as the cooler air replaces it. The air on the front side of the boundary line is warmer than the air on the back side of the boundary line. These fronts are usually fast moving and bring stormy weather and heavy precipitation followed by clearing skies and higher pressure. Move in the Direction of the Triangles

4. Warm Fronts Warm air is moving toward cold air. The warm, less dense air slides over the cold, more dense air. The air on the front side of the boundary line is cooler than the air on the back side of the boundary line. These fronts usually move slowly and bring steady rain or snow over many days. Move in the Direction of the Semi-Circles

5. Stationary Fronts These fronts occur when neither the cool or warm air masses are strong enough to replace each other. They tend to stay in an area for a long period of time, often bringing long periods of precipitation and clouds. Stay in One Area

6. High Pressure Cooler, dense air close to the surface of the Earth. Surrounded by winds flowing in a clockwise direction. HIGHS bring pleasant weather conditions in the summer and very cold clear weather in the winter. Moves toward Low Pressure

7. Low Pressure Warmer, less dense air above the Earth’s surface Surrounded by winds moving in a counterclockwise direction. LOWS bring stormy weather High pressure will move toward low pressure.

8. High and LowPressure Circulation Pressure Force

9. Why does the Earth have weather? How do weather maps show how global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather? Reflection Questions Answer the questions in complete sentences in your notebook

10. The relative measure of the amount of water vapor in the air Psychrometer – measures the humidity Water vapor affects the density of the air. Cold air is heavier than warm air. Humidity

11. A body of air extending over a large area (1,000 miles or more) that eventually develops and retains specific characteristics of pressure, temperature, and humidity. What is an air mass?

12. Air masses over the equator will have high temperatures. Air masses over polar regions will have low temperatures. Air masses over water (maritime) will have high humidity (moisture content). Air masses over land (continental) will have low humidity (moisture content). Location, Location, Location…

13. Air masses tend to form in areas with little wind. Remember, they sit over an area for a long period of time without moving. Where do air masses form?

14. mT – maritime tropical, warm moist air cT – continental tropical, warm dry air mP – maritime polar, cold moist air cP – continental polar, cold dry air cA – continental arctic, super cold, dry Classification and characteristics of Air Masses

15. Location of Air Masses

16. Convection How do air masses move?

17. Warm air rises, and cold air moves in to replace it. A circulation pattern is formed. Causes air and water currents to form Convection

18. How do different air masses form? Reflection QuestionAnswer in complete sentences in your notebook