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WEATHER NOTES
Interaction over short and long times brings
continuous change to the atmosphere and the
hydrosphere.
Weather both predictable and unpredictable
at the same time?
I. VW: Atmosphere
** What is the atmosphere like?
- The relatively thin layer of ______________
surrounding the Earth.
- The most abundant gas is _____________, then
oxygen – also some carbon dioxide, water
vapor, and traces of others.
- Is the reason Earth can support life. It
provides us with the
- _____________we breathe, it keeps
_________________________ in a range life
can handle, and protects from ______________
rays and ________________.
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Layers of the Atmosphere
1) Each layer has its own
properties including:
a) composition of
______________.
b) how _______________
changes with altitude
c) ______________
2) Nearly all weather happens
in the _______________
- the layer where we live
- the layer closest to
Earth.
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II Weather
- is the _________________________condition
of a __________________ place at a
_________________ time.
- Weather is primarily caused by the ___________
___________ of Earth.
- The primary factors of weather are:
- ________________________________
- ________________________________
- ________________________________
- The Sun’s energy reaches the Earth through a
process called ___________________ - the
transfer of energy in waves.
III. Predicting Weather
** How can weather be predicted?
Weather Instrument
Weather Variable
_________________
Barometric Pressure
_________________
Wind Speed
_________________
Amount of Precipitation
_________________
Wind Direction
_________________
Temperature
________________
Humidity
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- Modern Meteorologists also use:
- Be Able to Read Weather Maps
- _____________________ connect points of
equal air pressure.
IV. Air Pressure
** How does air pressure affect weather?
- The ____________ that a column of air applies on
the air/surface below.
- There is more air pressure in _______________ air.
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- Air moves from ______________________
pressure to_____________ pressure
- High-pressure systems generally bring ________
skies and _______________weather.
- Low-pressure systems generally bring
_____________________________weather
- Pressure systems generally move
________________to _____________in the
United States.
V. Water
** What role does water have in weather?
- All the water on the Earth is called the
_________________________. This
includes oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and
water vapor.
A. Humidity
- The amount of ____________ ___________
in the air.
- ________________ air can hold more water
vapor than ________________ air.
- Water vapor ________________ as air cools.
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Relative Humidity
- Amount of ___________ __________
held compared to what it could be held. At
_______________it can’t hold any more.
Then rain or dew will form.
- The relative humidity ________________
as temperature decreases.
B. Water Cycle
- Continuous movement of Earth’s water from
the ocean, to the _______________, to the
land and back again.
- Driven by the _________________ and
________________.
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(A) _________________________, (changes
from a liquid to a gas due to an increase in
thermal energy)
(B) __________________________, (changes
from a gas to a liquid due to a decrease in
thermal energy).
(C) __________________________,
(D) __________________________,
C. Clouds
- A collection of tiny droplets of _____________
or ice crystals.
- Form when air containing water vapor
______________, ________________ and
________________.
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- Droplets form around __________________,
_______________, or _______________.
Millions of droplets make up a cloud.
D. Cloud Types
- ________________: ice crystals – usually no
precipitation – changing
weather – wispy, feathery, high
- ________________: fluffy, fair weather
- ________________: precipitation, thunderheads
- ________________: layers, flat, will produce
light to heavy continuous rain
- ________________: low stratus clouds
E. Precipitation
- ________________: falls from clouds through
temperatures above freezing.
- ________________: below the cloud is freezing,
stays ice crystals
- ________________: rain falls through freezing air
- ________________: freezes when on the surface
- ________________: inside cumulonimbus clouds
– updraft tosses ice crystals back up.
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** QUIZ ONE**:
Date_____________ , _________ _____
Pages: ________ - ________
VI. Air Mass
** What role does air mass have in weather?
- Is a large __________________ of air that has the
same __________________________, and
__________________________ throughout.
- Forms when the air takes on the _______________
and ________________________of surface below.
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A. Types of Air Masses
Maritime:
Polar
Form over: __________
Form over: ___________
Brings: ____________
Brings:
Continental
____________
Tropical
Form over:___________
Form over: ___________
Brings: ____________
Brings: _____________
B. VW: Front:
- A ______________________between two
air masses as they collide (not mix).
- Changes in ______________________,
_____________ , _____________
types, ______________, and
______________________ are likely to
occur at these boundaries.
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1) Cold Fronts
- ____________ air mass runs into a
________________ air mass. Warm air is
forced ________ which then ___________
and ________________. Clouds form.
_______________ and ______________
often form. Temperatures _____________.
The _______________ becomes gusty.
Severe _______________ may also occur.
- SYMBOL:
2. Warm Fronts
- ____________ air mass runs into a
________________ air mass. Warm air is
forced ________ which then ___________
and ________________. Clouds bring
_______________ _______________.
Temperatures _______________.
- SYMBOL:
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3. Stationary Fronts
- When the boundary ________________.
Clouds and _____________ stay for several
days.
- SYMBOL:
4. Occluded Fronts
- A cold front catches up with a warm front
and blocks in the warm air. They usually
bring __________________________.
- SYMBOL:
VII. Wind
** How are winds formed?
- Energy in air is transferred through the
atmosphere by ____________________.
- When this motion is strong, the air is said to be
__________________.
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- Wind is the ________________________ of
air from areas of ___________________
pressure to areas of ______________
pressure.
- The moving of air caused by the ___________
_______________________________
of Earth.
A. Global Winds
- Circulation of air on the whole globe due to the
uneven heating of Earth at different
____________________.
- Earth’s ________________ causes winds to
move in curved paths. This is the Coriolis
Effect.
- These are predictable, prevailing winds. They
blow mainly from one direction. In the US
this is mainly from the _______________
to the ____________________
B. Jet Stream
- A narrow band of high-speed wind that blows in
the upper ________________________.
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- Moves air masses - Less predictable.
Move _____________to ____________
C. Local Winds / Sea and Lake Breezes
- Water temperatures change
________________ than land
temperatures. This also means a difference
in air pressure.
- The _____________ current that results
causes wind.
** QUIZ TWO**:
Date_____________ , _________ _____
Pages: ________ - _________
VIII. Severe Weather
** What happens when weather gets severe?
- ________________ of severe weather allows
people to be given sufficient warning to take safety
precautions.
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- Safety in all storms
- Listen for :
- ____________________ - Conditions
are right for a storm. Be alert.
- ____________________ - Storms have
been spotted. Take precautions.
- Have an ______________________kit and
a _________________ plan.
A. Thunderstorms
- Strong ________________, heavy
________________, and _______________.
- Sometimes also ______________,
______________, and/or ______________.
- Warm air creates _____________________
conditions.
- Safety:
- Every thunderstorm has _______________.
- Find shelter ___________ if possible.
Don’t use any electric devices.
- If outside, stay away from ______________
places and isolated _________________.
- Always avoid __________ and __________.
- Don’t go in _________________ waters.
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B. Tornado
- Violent, ____________________column of
air that extends to the ground.
- ________________ can be more than 400
kilometers/hour (250 m/hr) and several
hundred meters across. They can carry cars,
trees, houses and debris.
- Hard to predict
- Most common in Tornado Alley.
- Measured on Fujita Scale - F0-F5
- Safety:
- Underground in ______________ or
____________ room on 1st floor.
- If outside, flat in a _______________, face
down, head covered
C. Hurricanes
- Large ________________ storm - forms over
____________ ___________________.
- They must be at least 120 kilometers/hour (75
m/hr). ________________.
- They can be 150 thousand times bigger across than
tornadoes.
- Also called a typhoon or tropical cyclone
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- Safety
- _______________________ if told to
- Stay away from ________________ waters
D. Ice Storms
- A type of winter storm characterized by _______
that coats the ground, trees, and wires.
E. Blizzard
- Heavy ________________ and strong
________________ will produce a blinding
snow, near zero ________________, deep
drifts and life-threatening wind chill.
- Winter Safety:
- Be prepared to be at home for ___________
______________.
- Stay inside, stay warm, dress in ___________.
- Use caution when _________________, stay
off unplowed roads.
IX. CLIMATE
**How do weather and climate compare?
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A) VW: Climate is the ________________of
weather that occurs over a ________________
period of time (usually 30 years) in a particular
region.
- _______________ temperatures and
_________________ precipitation
B. Factors that Affect Climate
- Bodies of Water
- Latitude and Altitude
- ________________________________
- blocks and cools the Earth
- ________________________________
- which destroys the natural balance of
Greenhouse Effect.
** QUIZ THREE**:
Date_____________ , _________ _____
Pages: ________ - _________
** UNIT TEST**:
Date_____________ , _________ _____
Pages: ________ - _________
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