Download What`s a Weather Front? - kristinallusk

Week-At-A-Glance
Monday
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MSL Review
MSL Review
MSL Review
MSL Review
MSL Review
Atmosphere
Weather
Human Body
Genetics
Physics
Grade level: 7th grade
Subject: Science
Lesson Topic: MSL Review Atmosphere
Teacher: Lusk
Date: May 13h, 2013
Stage 1 – Desired Results
Standards (CCS/ES):
Key Ideas from the Standards:
7.E.1.1-7.P.2.4
What will the students be able to do?
Vocabulary:
SWBAT review important details about our

atmosphere.
SWBAT understand cloud formation and wind.
Sources/Materials/Technology:
____Literary Text:
____ Information:
____ Lab:
____Art:
____Technology:
Formal:
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Informal:
Stage 3 – Opening Activities
Warm Up: (10 minutes)

Stage 4- Learning Plan
Lesson Focus “I DO” (15 mins)
 Teacher will begin by outlying some general review over the atmosphere.
Guided practice “WE DO” (45 mins)
 Students will work around the room doing review stations over atmosphere, wind, and clouds.
Independent Practice “YOU DO” (15 mins)
 Students will complete a quiz, quiz, trade activity.
Independent Practice “YOU DO” (10 mins)
 Students will take an exit ticket.
Quarter One Multiple Choice Test/ Vocabulary Test Study Guide
Name
Block
Layer of the Atmosphere: (Fill in this chart)
Layer Name
Troposphere
What happens here
Temperature Increases/Decreases
Decreases
Planes Fly Here; Ozone Layer
Weather Balloons
Mesosphere
Decreases
Aurora Borealis
Vocabulary Chart:
Vocabulary Word
Definition
When a cooler air mass pushes a warm air mass and forces the
warm air to rise. As the warm air rises, its moisture condenses
and forms tall clouds.
A type of front which forms when warmer air pushes a colder air
mass. The warmer air rises slowly over the cold air and its
moisture condenses into flat clouds.
The type of front which occurs when two air masses push
against each other without moving. When one air mass does
advance, the front becomes either a warm or cold front.
The ratio of mass to volume m/v in any type of matter
Made of three oxygen atoms, created and destroyed in the
Stratosphere; heats our atmosphere, while absorbing
dangerous ultraviolet radiation.
This type of radiation has a higher frequency than visible light
and can cause sunburn and other types of damage
Radiation of lower frequencies than visible light; tends to warm
the materials that absorb it. Objects which give off heat,
including humans, are giving off this type of radiation.
Atmosphere
Altitude
The transfer of heat energy from one substance to another
through direct contact without obvious motion.
Convection
Radiation
Earth’s process of water phase change and energy transfer
which includes evaporation and transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, collection and runoff
The process by which a particular gas in the air is changed to
liquid and solid forms in the soil by bacteria, fungi and algae, is
used by plants and animals, returned to the soil through
excrement, decay, and decomposition, and slowly returned to
the air as gas.
The process by which air is inhaled by animals, then exhaled,
using some of the oxygen but increasing the amount of a
particular gas in the exhaled air. It is this gas which plants take
in and use in the process of photosynthesis, releasing oxygen
back into the air.
When designing an experiment, it is the factor that you wish to
test and that is manipulated or changed so that it can be tested.
It is expressed in your hypothesis after the word “if.”
The factor in an experiment which you measure to gather
results. It is expressed in your hypothesis after the word “then.”
A conclusion implied by data, observations, or information,
formulated with the addition of insight.
Following observation or experience, this is created in order to
tentatively predict the outcome of a scientifically designed test.
An increase in the surface temperature of a planet caused by the
absorption and emitting of infrared radiation by certain gases, in
Earth’s case CO2 and methane in particular
In an experiment, the factors which are kept the same in both the
experiment and the control groups; constants.
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and attach to the study guide:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
If you were to fill a balloon with air at sea level, how could you increase the size of the balloon in relation to altitude?
(HINT: Would you move the balloon above sea level or below sea level.)
Which gas makes up most of the Earth’s atmosphere?
What does the level of humidity have to say about the likelihood of precipitation?
As altitude increases, air pressure
.
What is evaporation?
What is the eye of a hurricane? Why can it be dangerous?
High pressure means
and low pressure means
when predicting weather.
What is necessary for a thunderstorm to form?
What is the name for a storm that often hits on coasts and has wind speeds topping 74 mph?
What type of clouds do we associate with thunderstorms?
What type of weather do we often see as a cold front enters the area?
List two facts about stationary fronts.
Why is ozone both good and bad?
What causes wind?
Why is the Jet Stream important?
Why are hurricanes growing in strength with global warming?
As air particulate increases, air quality gets
.
As a high-pressure system from the west arrives at and persists at a location in the east, what will most likely be true about
the wind’s movement at the eastern location?
List 3 ways scientists use satellite images to predict weather.
How do temperature differences calculated from infrared satellites predict weather conditions?
Quarter One Multiple Choice Test/ Vocabulary Test Study Guide
Key
Name
Block
Layer of the Atmosphere: (Fill in this chart)
Layer Name
Troposphere
What happens here
Weather and Life
Temperature Increases/Decreases
Decreases
Stratosphere
Increases
Mesosphere
Planes Fly Here; Ozone Layer
Weather Balloons
Meteors burn Up
Decreases
Thermosphere
Aurora Borealis
Increases
Vocabulary Chart:
Vocabulary Word
Definition
Cold Front
When a cooler air mass pushes a warm air mass and forces the
warm air to rise. As the warm air rises, its moisture condenses
and forms tall clouds.
A type of front which forms when warmer air pushes a colder air
mass. The warmer air rises slowly over the cold air and its
moisture condenses into flat clouds.
The type of front which occurs when two air masses push
against each other without moving. When one air mass does
advance, the front becomes either a warm or cold front.
The ratio of mass to volume m/v in any type of matter
Warm Front
Stationary Front
Density
Ozone
Ultraviolet Radiation
Infrared Radiation
Atmosphere
Altitude
Made of three oxygen atoms, created and destroyed in the
Stratosphere; heats our atmosphere, while absorbing
dangerous ultraviolet radiation.
This type of radiation has a higher frequency than visible light
and can cause sunburn and other types of damage
Radiation of lower frequencies than visible light; tends to warm
the materials that absorb it. Objects which give off heat,
including humans, are giving off this type of radiation.
The layer of gases around a large body in space,
such as a planet or star
The distance above sea level when discussing the
atmosphere.
Conduction
The transfer of heat energy from one substance to another
through direct contact without obvious motion.
Convection
The transfer of energy from place to place by the motion
of heated gas or liquid
Energy that travels across distances as certain types of
waves.
Radiation
Water Cycle
Earth’s process of water phase change and energy transfer
which includes evaporation and transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, collection and runoff
Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Inference
Hypothesis
Greenhouse Effect
Controls
The process by which a particular gas in the air is changed to
liquid and solid forms in the soil by bacteria, fungi and algae, is
used by plants and animals, returned to the soil through
excrement, decay, and decomposition, and slowly returned to
the air as gas.
The process by which air is inhaled by animals, then exhaled,
using some of the oxygen but increasing the amount of a
particular gas in the exhaled air. It is this gas which plants take
in and use in the process of photosynthesis, releasing oxygen
back into the air.
When designing an experiment, it is the factor that you wish to
test and that is manipulated or changed so that it can be tested.
It is expressed in your hypothesis after the word “if.”
The factor in an experiment which you measure to gather
results. It is expressed in your hypothesis after the word “then.”
A conclusion implied by data, observations, or information,
formulated with the addition of insight.
Following observation or experience, this is created in order to
tentatively predict the outcome of a scientifically designed test.
An increase in the surface temperature of a planet caused by the
absorption and emitting of infrared radiation by certain gases, in
Earth’s case CO2 and methane in particular
In an experiment, the factors which are kept the same in both
the experimental and the control groups; constants.
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and attach to the study guide:
21. If you were to fill a balloon with air at sea level, how could you increase the size of the balloon in relation to altitude?
(HINT: Would you move the balloon above sea level or below sea level.) If I wanted to increase the size of a
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
balloon at sea level, I could transport that balloon to a higher altitude and the balloon’s molecules
would expand because as altitude increases, air pressure decreases. This would make the balloon
increase in size.
Which gas makes up most of the Earth’s atmosphere? Nitrogen
What does the level of humidity have to say about the likelihood of precipitation? A low level of humidity would
indicate that precipitation is not likely.
As altitude increases, air pressure
decreases
.
What is evaporation? Evaporation is part of the water cycle where liquid water is warmed and
transformed in to water vapor, a gas.
What is the eye of a hurricane? Why can it be dangerous? The eye of a hurricane is the calm center where no
severe weather is present. However, the eye is surrounded by the highest winds of the storm. In
addition, people may leave their homes during the eye because they feel safe because of the calm
weather. However, the second part of the eye hits very quickly and people are often injured or killed.
High pressure means
Clear, blue skies and no precipitation
and low pressure means Cloudy
weather often with rain/precipitation
when predicting weather.
What is necessary for a thunderstorm to form? Warm and Cold fronts meet. Air moves toward the center of
a storm and rises into the atmosphere.
What is the name for a storm that often hits on coasts and has wind speeds topping 74 mph? Hurricane
What type of clouds do we associate with thunderstorms? Cumulonimbus
31. What type of weather do we often see as a cold front enters the area?
Thunderstorms
32. List two facts about stationary fronts.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
a. Very slow-moving warm air cannot push the existing cold air, resulting in extended periods
of rain.
 Marked on a weather map with alternating semicircles and triangles
Why is ozone both good and bad? Ozone in the stratosphere shields us from harmful radiation from the
sun. However, ozone in the troposphere is a byproduct of industry and is bad because it is a
pollutant and causes respiratory problems.
What causes wind? As a result of Earth’s surface being heated unevenly, differences in density and air
pressure develop, and air moves from high to low pressure areas, causing winds.
Why is the Jet Stream important? It moves weather patterns around the world.
Why are hurricanes growing in strength with global warming? Global Warming is causing higher temperatures
of the water, which feeds hurricanes and makes them stronger.
As air particulate increases, air quality gets
Worse
.
38. As a high-pressure system from the west arrives at and persists at a location in the east, what will most likely be true about
the wind’s movement at the eastern location? The winds will be rotational, in a clockwise direction out of the
high.
Station 1: Layers of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is made up of many layers. The layer closest to the earth is called the troposphere. This is where
most of the water vapor is. Most weather is found in this layer. The air temperature decreases as you go from the bottom
to the top of the troposphere.
The next layer is called the stratosphere. Ozone is found here. This is a layer of special oxygen molecules high above
the earth. It absorbs harmful rays of the sun. If there were no ozone, the sun would badly damage our skin. The
stratosphere is warm because it absorbs much of the radiation from the sun. The top of the stratosphere is about 50 km
above the earth's surface.
Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. This is the coldest layer because there is no ozone here. Above the
mesosphere is the thermosphere. The temperature in this layer is more than 1000 degrees Celsius. This layer is very thin.
The molecules are spread out. So it wouldn't feel that hot to you if you were to go through it.
The last layer is the exosphere. Hydrogen and helium are found here. Beyond this layer is outer space. But you
won't "bump into" outer space. There is no ceiling at the end of the atmosphere. The molecules are just spaced farther
apart until they don't exist anymore.
Animals need air to breathe. Plants need gases in the air, too in order to grow. Life on earth could not exist without the
atmosphere.
Station 2: Earth’s Gases
Table 1 lists the eleven most abundant gases found in the Earth's lower atmosphere by volume. Of the gases
listed, nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone are extremely
important to the health of the Earth's biosphere.
The table indicates that nitrogen and oxygen are the main components of the atmosphere by volume. Together
these two gases make up approximately 99% of the dry atmosphere. Both of these gases have very important
associations with life. Nitrogen is removed from the atmosphere and deposited at the Earth's surface mainly by
specialized nitrogen fixing bacteria, and by way of lightning through precipitation. The addition of this nitrogen
to the Earth's surface soils and various water bodies supplies much needed nutrition for plant growth. Nitrogen
returns to the atmosphere primarily through biomass combustion and denitrification.
Oxygen is exchanged between the atmosphere and life through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
Photosynthesis produces oxygen when carbon dioxide and water are chemically converted into glucose with the
help of sunlight. Respiration is the opposite process of photosynthesis. In respiration, oxygen is combined with
glucose to chemically release energy for metabolism. The products of this reaction are water and carbon
dioxide.
The next most abundant gas on the table is water vapor. Water vapor varies in concentration in the atmosphere
both spatially and temporally (see Figures 1 and 2). The highest concentrations of water vapor are found near
the equator over the oceans and tropical rain forests. Cold polar areas and subtropical continental deserts are
locations where the volume of water vapor can approach zero percent. Water vapor has several very important
functional roles on our planet:



It redistributes heat energy on the Earth through latent heat energy exchange.
The condensation of water vapor creates precipitation that falls to the Earth's surface providing needed fresh
water for plants and animals.
It helps warm the Earth's atmosphere through the greenhouse effect.
The fifth most abundant gas in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. The volume of this gas has increased by over
35% in the last three hundred years (see Figure 3). This increase is primarily due to human activities such as
combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other forms of land-use change. Some scientists believe that this
increase is causing global warming through an enhancement of the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is also
exchanged between the atmosphere and life through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
Station 3: Greenhouse Gases
You know that the sun is the source of all energy on earth. But sometimes we get a double dose of that energy. Solar radiation reaches
the earth. The earth soaks up some of it and reflects some back to the atmosphere. The reflected radiation is absorbed by the gases in
the atmosphere. The gases act like the glass walls of a greenhouse. They trap the warm air in and reflect it back to earth again.
Scientists call this the greenhouse effect.
2 You may have heard that the greenhouse effect is a bad thing. But the truth is life could not exist on earth without it. Our planet
would be cold. However, an increase in the greenhouse effect would make earth too hot. Many scientists think that this is happening
now. There is an increase in carbon dioxide. This is causing an increase in the greenhouse effect. The earth is warming up.
3 Temperatures around the earth have steadily gone up over the past 200 years. The past twenty years have seen the biggest
increase. If this continues, it could have a shocking effect on the earth. People's lives could be changed in a negative way.
4 Most scientists agree that global warming is happening. What they disagree on, though, is what is causing it. The greenhouse
effect happens naturally. There is proof that the climate of the earth has warmed up and cooled down in the past. But data show that
the population is growing. So is the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Are people causing global warming? If so, what effects will
this have on the earth?
5 Many scientists think that global warming is caused by human activities. Every time we drive a car, we put carbon dioxide in the
air. We burn a lot of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. This gives off a lot of carbon dioxide. Cutting of the rainforests is also causing
more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Plants take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. If there are fewer plants, this will not
happen.
6 Climatic changes happen very slowly. It will take a long time to see the effects of global warming. There are two different
theories. Some scientists think that the warming will cause the polar ice caps to melt. This will cause the oceans to rise. Coastal cities
could be flooded. Other scientists have a different idea. If the air over Antarctica warms up, it can hold more moisture. This would
mean more snow. The ice caps might get larger. We might even have another ice age.
7 There are other changes in our weather due to global warming. Sea level has risen over four inches in the past 100 years. More
water can be evaporated. This is causing more precipitation. There have been strong rainstorms in parts of the U.S. This has caused
massive mudslides and flooding. There has been an increase in violent storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes. They have caused a
lot of injury and property damage.
8 What can be done about global warming? Can one person make a difference? The answer is YES! If we conserve energy we will
use less fossil fuel. Turn off appliances and lights when you're not using them. Wear a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat in
the winter. Open the windows instead of using the air conditioner in the summer. Ride your bike instead of driving short distances.
Always recycle everything you can. If we all work together to conserve, the earth will be a lot better off.
Station Four: Clouds and air temperature
Cirrus clouds are the most common of the high clouds. They are composed of ice and are thin, wispy clouds
blown in high winds into long streamers. Cirrus clouds are usually white and predict fair to pleasant weather.
By watching the movement of cirrus clouds you can tell from which direction weather is approaching. When
you see cirrus clouds, it usually indicates that a change in the weather will occur within 24 hours.
Cumulus clouds are white, puffy clouds that look like pieces of floating cotton. Cumulus clouds are often
called "fair-weather clouds". The base of each cloud is flat and the top of each cloud has rounded towers. When
the top of the cumulus clouds resemble the head of a cauliflower, it is called cumulus congestus or towering
cumulus. These clouds grow upward and they can develop into giant cumulonimbus clouds, which are
thunderstorm clouds.
Stratus clouds are uniform grayish clouds that often cover the entire sky. They resemble fog that doesn't reach
the ground. Light mist or drizzle sometimes falls out of these clouds.
Cold Air: has more air pressure and weighs more because particles are cold and are closer together. Cold air
sinks because it is heavy.
Warm (hot) Air: has less air pressure because particles are hot and spread apart. Warm air rises because it is
light (example: hot air balloon).
*Air is heated by the sun.
*A large amount of air that has a certain temperature is a FRONT.
*Land heats up and cools down faster than water.
*Humidity: the amount of water vapor (moisture) in the air.
Station Five: Air Pressure and Weather
When your friend squeezes your arm, you feel pressure! That's because molecules collide with each other and
things like your arm, the ground, or a tree. They exert a force on those surfaces.
Molecules in Earth’s atmosphere constantly bounce off each other and everything else around them. The force
exerted by these air molecules is called air pressure. Molecules that are packed closely are at higher pressure
than molecules that are more spread out. The molecules inside this balloon are at a higher pressure than the
molecules outside the balloon.
What's a high pressure system?
Sometimes, high in the sky, air slows its forward motion and piles up. This is called convergence. The piled-up
air sinks. When the sinking air reaches the Earth’s surface, it spreads out. This is called divergence. In the
Northern Hemisphere it spreads out with clockwise surface rotation and is called a high pressure system.
What's a low pressure system?
High in the sky, air moves away from an area faster than air enters an area. When air spreads out (divergence) at
high altitudes, air from below flows upward to fill the space, making a low pressure system. The system has
surface convergence and anti-clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere.
What is a High Pressure System?
A high pressure system is a whirling mass of cool, dry air that generally brings fair weather and
light winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral out of a high-pressure center in a clockwise
rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. These bring sunny skies. A high pressure system is
represented as a big, blue H.
H
What is a Low Pressure System?
A low pressure system is a whirling mass of warm, moist air that generally brings stormy
weather with strong winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral into a low-pressure center in
a counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. A low pressure system is represented
as a big, red L.
L
.
Station 6: Weather Fronts
What's a Weather Front?
An air mass is a large body of air that has similar moisture (density) and temperature characteristics. A front is a
transition zone between two air masses.
A cold front is a warm-cold air boundary with the colder air replacing the warmer. As a cold front moves into
an area, the heavier cool air pushes under the lighter warm air that it is replacing. The warm air becomes cooler
as it rises. If the rising air is humid enough, the water vapor it contains will condense into clouds and
precipitation may fall.
As the cold front moves, warm, moist unstable air is usually
replaced by cold, dry stable air.
A warm front is the boundary between warm and cool (or cold)
air when the warm air is replacing the cold air. Warm air at the surface pushes above the cool air mass, making
clouds and storms. Warm fronts often bring stormy weather. Warm fronts often form on the east side of lowpressure systems where warmer air from the south is pushed
north.
A warm front typically replaces cool dry air with warm
moist air.
What is a stationary front?
A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses that more or less doesn’t move, but some
stationary fronts can wobble back and forth for several hundred miles a day. A stationary front is
represented as an alternating warm and cold front symbol.
What is a occluded front?
An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a
warm front. An occluded front is represented as a purple line with teeth and half circles.