Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Weather Patterns and Maps Atmospheric Variables at Work Weather Forecasting Synoptic Map: Weather Maps that show field qualities such as: 1.)Temperature 2.)Air Pressure 3.)Precipitation 4.)Front Systems 5.)Wind Speeds At a specific time over a large geographic area Isotherms: represent lines of equal temperature on a weather map- in Fahrenheit or Celsius Drawing Isotherms Isobar: represent lines of equal pressure • Measured from sea level on a synoptic map • Varies from 960mb – 1050mb (normal is 1013.2) Drawing Isobars What is the Coriolis Effect? • Results from the rotation of the Earth • Causes: – Wind – Ocean Currents – And anything traveling on or in them *To be deflected! The path of travel is affected! Coriolis Effect The Coriolis Effect on Wind Deflection If Earth were Stationary-Not Quite! Missile and Target Example. Winds are Deflected due to the rotation of the Earth Travel Path and Deflection Planetary Wind and Pressure Belts Page 14 ESRT Convection around the globe • Air rises at equator (Low pressure) and sinks at 30˚ N & S (High Pressure) Air again rises at 60 ˚ N & S in an area of low pressure • Because air flows from highlow pressure, this creates our typical wind patterns Wind Deflection and Direction Northern Hemisphere: As winds Travel North, deflected to the right As winds Travel South, deflected to the left Southern Hemisphere: As winds travel North, deflected to the left As winds travel South, deflected to the right Weather in 2013 video Coriolis Effect On wind and Pressure Systems High: Clockwise and out (Anticyclone) Low: Northern Hemisphere Counter-Clockwise and IN (cyclone) Pressure Systems and Air Flow Question Checkpoint • Using what you just learned, what is the typical direction (called a storm track) that a storm will travel that originates in the central U.S? Cyclone: a low pressure system “L” on a synoptic map. This is a zone of convergence at ground level because rising air at the center draws in air L http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=d93fcb1a-28dd-4f36-afa7d9669c4cf363 Anticylone: “H” on a synoptic map/center of a high pressure system. These are areas of Divergence at ground level where sinking air at the center causes winds to blow outward Air Masses large bodies of air with uniform temperature, pressure and humidity Source Region: Where the air mass comes from • • • • • maritime Tropical (mT)- warm & humid air continental Tropical (cT)- hot & dry air maritime Polar (mP)- cold & humid air continental Polar (cP)- cold & dry air continental Arctic (cA)- very cold & dry air • There are no mA air masses Air mass origins Front Systems represents as a boundary between 2 different air masses • Fronts are named after the air mass BEHIND them and bring about temperature & other weather changes • There are 4 types of fronts: Warm, Cold, Stationary, and Occluded The Cold Front 1.) They pass very quickly (hrs!) 2.) Causes warmer air to risecooling, & rapid cloud formation intense precipitation 3.)summer: Cause bad thunderstorms 4.) Is followed by cooler, drier weather and High Pressure Cold Front Cold Front warm cold The Warm Front 1.)Moves Slowly (DAYS) 2.)Warm air flows in to replace a retreating cold air 3.)Warm moist air rises over cooler air & cools by expansionformation of high wispy clouds which thickensteady precipitation 4.) Associated with warm, hazy weather followed by LOW atmospheric pressure Warm Front The Occluded Front Occurs when an advancing cold air mass pushes a lighter warm air mass completely above the ground as it overtakes it mixes 1.)Associated with large areas of rainy, unsettled weather 2.)Once it’s passed the conditions are similar to a cold front Formation of an Occluded Front Occluded Front The Stationary Front -Occurs when winds blow in opposite directions along a cold and warm air boundary -little or no movement (a.k.a. stationary) -clear, partly cloudy or light precip. but nothing severe unless there is a lot of moisture in the air Typical Mid latitude-low storm system Where is it warm and where is it cold? How we predict weather from fronts Jet Stream: upper level winds (tropopause/stratosphere that form where cold, polar air meets warmer tropical air. VERY FAST! Aid in jet travel. Are WESTERLY in U.S. There are two jet streams: Polar Jet and Subtropical Jet Where the jet stream is positioned brings changes in weather (ex: storms)