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Science 8
Why are you
Frontin’?
EQ: If you could remove one layer of
the atmosphere, which one would you
remove, and why?
Targeted Skills
Technology Skills
 Select and Effectively Manipulate Technology Tools
 use content specific tools
Thinking and Reasoning
 Creative Thinking
cause/effect
Enduring Understandings
Earth has unique characteristics that allow life to exist.
Concepts Important to Know and Understand
global patterns, energy transfer, Earth’s atmosphere
Broad Brush Knowledge
climate and weather, temperature
TEKS
8.10B identify how global patterns of atmospheric movement
influence local weather using weather maps that show high and
low pressures and fronts.
.
Purpose: Create a foldable showing the four types of fronts and predict weather patterns using
weather maps.
Directions: Using the Expert Information, take C-Notes in your notebook.
Expert Information: A meteorologist is a scientist that studies the atmosphere and focuses on
forecasting and weather processes. They use a variety of tools to study weather including
computer modules, weather instruments, satellite imagery, and radars. Meteorologists also have
volunteers across the United States that observe weather processes and reports the
information back to a central location.
A front is a boundary separating two air masses of different densities. An air mass is a
body of air that has properties similar to the part of Earth’s surface over which it forms.
Therefore, air masses over land are drier than air masses over water. There are four types of
fronts: cold front, warm front, occluded front, and stationary front.
In a cold front cold air advances towards the warm air lifting the warm air up. Cold air is
denser causing it to sink below warm air. Thunderstorms often form due to the warm air
suddenly being lifted up over the cold air. Cold fronts are associated with low pressure areas
and violent weather.
In a warm front warm air advances towards the cold air sliding over the cold air forming
a gentle slope. Warm fronts can create hours or even days of wet weather.
An occluded front occurs when colder air forces warm air upward, closing off the warm
air from the surface.
A stationary front results when neither cold air nor warm air advances. A stationary
front can remain in an area for a day or several days.
Updated 6/2012
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Winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Low pressure systems
are formed when the air becomes less dense as a result of heating. Due to the molecules in a low
pressure system being spread farther apart, there is room for precipitation, wind and clouds to
form creating stormy weather. Bad weather is usually associated with low pressure systems. On a
weather map a red capital L represents low pressure systems.
High pressure systems are formed when there is uneven
heating of the ground, causing the warm air to rise and spread
out. The molecules in a high pressure system are tightly packed
together. Since there is no room between molecules for
weather conditions to form, these systems are associated with
sunny, cloudless, fair weather. On a weather map high pressure
systems are presented with a blue capital H. These systems
are associated with clear, cool weather and anticyclones.
Procedure Part I to create a foldable:
1. Fold a sheet of paper in half long ways. Cut the top sheet into four sections without cutting
the bottom sheet.
2. On the top cut pieces write the name of the front and draw the symbol of the front found on
weather maps. Make sure to add the correct colors to the symbols.
3. Fold the top flap up. Go to the following website and look at the pictures of the types of
fronts: http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/index.html
4. Below the top flap draw the types of air masses that are moving and show how they move to
create each type of front.
Updated 6/2012
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Why Are You Frontin’?
Data Analysis:
Using the maps, answer the following questions about predicting weather.
H
59
Minneapolis
67
Philadelphia
60
H
L
41
San
Francisco
52
Denver
43
San
Francisco
Minneapolis
Philadelphia
67
L
34
Denver
L
82
Dallas
84
86
0
500
1000 miles
Dallas
Miami
L
88
0
500
Miami
1000 miles
Monday
Tuesday
1. What city on the map had the greatest change in weather?
2. Label the cold front that is below. Which direction it is going?
3. Which city on the map would have the greatest change over the next twenty-four hours?
4. If there is a low-pressure system near Philadelphia on Tuesday, what type of weather
conditions could you expect?
5. If there is a high-pressure system in the western states, what type of weather could you
expect there?
6. In the Denver, Colorado area, approximately how far has the cold front moved from Monday
to Tuesday?
7. If you see the following symbol
temperature in the upcoming days?
Updated 6/2012
coming near Dallas, what should happen to the
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