Download Project-Based Inquiry Science It`s About Time Weather Watch Back

Project-Based Inquiry Science
Weather Watch
It’s About Time
Back to the Big Challenge
Reflect p. 59
Name: _____________________________________________ Date: _______________
1. Why are rapid changes in the atmosphere an indication of possible severe weather?
2. Climate data alone cannot be used to predict when a severe weather event will occur.
Why, then, is it useful to have information about the climate of a region?
3. When you first looked at the weather maps, you could track the movement of fronts.
What is the relationship between fronts and changes in temperature? Fronts and
changes in precipitation? Fronts and changes in air pressure?
4. Based on your investigations, what more do you think you need to learn about how
the movements of fronts are related to weather changes to be able to predict
severe weather?
Project-Based Inquiry Science
It’s About Time
SAMPLE RESPONSES
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Rapid pressure changes indicate a steep pressure gradient and high winds. Rapid temperature
changes indicate a fast-moving front, causing air to rise rapidly and cool quickly resulting in
much condensation and precipitation.
Knowing a region’s climate allows you to predict the likelihood of certain types of severe weather
events. For example, average temperatures in Las Vegas, Nevada never drop below 45°F while in
Burlington, Vermont average temperatures are below 32°F for four months out of the year.
Therefore, it is more likely that a blizzard will occur in Burlington, Vermont than in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
The movement of a front is typically associated with changes in air pressure and temperature, and
with cloudiness and precipitation. These changes occur because the front marks the boundary
between two different air masses that have different characteristics. Fronts are also places where
warm air rides over or is forced upward by denser cold air. As the warm air moves upward, it
expands and cools causing condensation that forms clouds and precipitation.
Student answers may include questions such as: What causes fronts to move? Why is the weather
along warm fronts different from the weather along cold fronts? Why does severe weather occur
mainly along fronts? Are some types of fronts more likely to be associated with severe
weather than others? What kinds of severe weather are associated with each type of front?