Download Weather and the Atmosphere

DO NOW!
1. What are the 4 layers of the atmosphere and
on what basis are they divided?
2. In which layers does temperature
increase/decrease with altitude?
3. Which type of air is more dense, warm air or
cold air?
4. Complete the boxes below by drawing
particles for the different air temperatures
Warm Air
using your answer from #1 Cold Air
5. If you are fighting on the
frontline of battle, where are you?
Objective
• We will be able to describe the weather
patterns associated with warm and cold fronts
Air Masses Notes
• Air mass:
– a large body of air with similar temperatures and
amount of moisture
– As it moves, the characteristics of the air mass
change and so does the weather in the area
3
Air Masses
• Moisture of source
– Continental: formed over land (DRY)
– Maritime: formed over water (HUMID)
• Temperature of source
– Polar: formed over polar area (COLD)
– Tropical: formed over tropical area (WARM)
4
Where would the 4 different air
masses originate?
mT, mP, cP, cT
Fronts
• Form when two air masses meet
• They are the boundary that separates the
two air masses
• There are 4 types of fronts…
7
Warm Fronts
• Warm air mass meets and rises above cold air
mass
• Associated with slow and steady rain, followed
by hot, humid weather
• gentle slope
Cold Fronts
• Cold air masses overtake and pushes under
warm air mass forms faster
• Heavy rains and violent thunderstorms,
followed by fair, cool weather
• Steeper slope
Stationary Fronts
• Front does not move b/c air flows parallel to
front line
• Gentle to moderate precipitation
1) Whats the difference between a warm front
and a cold front?
2) Which forms faster, a warm front or a cold
front?
Occluded Fronts
• Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts
they can catch up to and overtake a warm
front, wedging the warm air upward
• Complex; Heavy rains followed by light
precipitation for several days
Exit Ticket
__1. What type of front occurs when warm air moves into an
area where cooler air was?
a. warm front
c. stationary front
b. occluded front d. cold front
__2. When two air masses meet, what is going to occur
depending on air temperature?
a. cooler air will move on top of warm air
b. warm and cool air will flow evenly throughout
c. warm air will move on top of cooler air
d. medium temperature air will occur
__3. During a warm front, what type of weather are you most
likely to experience?
a. Clear, sunny skies
c. Steady, but light precipitation
b. High winds
d. Thunderstorms
Exit Ticket
__4. If a cold front just passed through Charlotte, what type of
weather was experienced while the cold front was occurring?
a. Clear, sunny skies c. No precipitation but high winds
b. Thunderstorms d. Light precipitation for a few days
5. Using the picture below, what type of front is occurring and
what type of weather will be experienced in the area?
Front: ___________________________________
Weather: _________________________________