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Weather
Weather Notes
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Weather is the ________ of the Earth’s atmosphere at a ___________ place and time
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It is the movement of _______________ through the atmosphere
o Energy comes from the _______________
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The sun is the force that _______________ weather
 The sun’s energy _______________ with earth’s atmosphere
_______________ in the atmosphere
o 50 % _______________ by earth’s surface. This heats the land and water
o Some absorbed energy is _______ back to the atmosphere. As infrared radiation
o 5% is _______________ by the surface back into the atmosphere
o 20% is absorbed by _______________ and particles in the atmosphere
o 25% of incoming sun is _______________ by dust, clouds, & particles
Heat Transfer
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Wind
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Conduction: direct _______________ from one substance to another (touching)
Radiation: direct transfer of _______________ by electromagnetic waves (through
space)
Convection: transfer of heat by the movement of _______________ (liquid or gas)
Wind is the _______________ movement of air from an area of _______________
pressure to an area of _______________ pressure
 _________ pressure
Low ____________
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Difference in pressure
o Caused by the _______________ heating of the atmosphere
 The _______________ air (by equator) rises
 The cool air _______________ or rushes to replace the rising air
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Measure wind
o Use anemometer
 unit of _______________ m.p.h. (miles per hour)
Wind chill: the blowing of wind on your skin makes you feel _______________
Local Winds
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Local winds: winds that _______________ over a small area
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Caused by unequal heating in a _______________ area
o Examples
 Sea Breeze: cool air blows from _______________ toward land where
hotter air has risen
 Land Breeze: land cools _______________ than body of water at night
 Hot air over water _______________ and rises
 _______________ air from land rushes in over the water
Global winds
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Global winds: winds that are caused by unequal heating of the _______________
o Occurs over _______________ areas
o Form from giant _______________ currents in the atmosphere
 (Hot  up, Cold  down)
 Air pressure at the poles is __________ than air pressure at the equator
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*PRESSURE DIFFERENCE CAUSES WIND*
o Coriolis Effect: global winds _______________ due to the rotation of the earth.
 The Coriolis effect is the way the earth’s _________ makes the wind curve
 Winds in North curve _______________ toward equator
 Winds in _______________ curve left toward equator
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Calm Areas
o Doldrums: area near the _______________
 The hot air rises and is replaced by cold air, but the cold air is heated so
_______________ there is not much horizontal movement
o Horse latitudes: occur at 30o North and South of equator
 Cool air sinks: very _______________ area
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Global wind Belts
o Trade winds: blow from the horse latitudes toward the __________
 Used for _______________ routes
o Polar easterlies: Cold air near the poles sinks
and _________ back toward the lower latitudes
 Coriolis effect _______________ these
winds so they meet prevailing westerlies
 Creates the ____________ front
o Prevailing westerlies: occur in the mid-latitudes
(30o-60o N & S)
 These blow towards the _____________
 Very important to _________ in the USA
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Jet Stream: bands of high speed air 10 km _____________ the earth (200-400 km/hr)
o Blow from West to East
Water in the Atmosphere
Humidity
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Humidity: is a measure of the _______________ in the air
o Warm air can hold _______________ H2O vapor than cool air
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Relative Humidity: The _______________ amount of water vapor the air can hold at a
particular time
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Dew Point: The temperature where condensation _______________
o When water vapor _______________ to liquid water
Clouds
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Clouds form when water vapor in the air __________ to form liquid water or ice crystals
o Condensation occurs when the _______________ changes and has small particles
to rest on
 Dew: condensation on a _______________
 Frost: condensation on a surface at a Temperature below ______________
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Three main types of clouds
o Classified by their _______________
o Cirrus: wispy _______________ “hooked ends”
 only at _______________ altitude
 made of _______________ crystals
 _______________ is coming
o Cumulus: _______________ white
 Some indicate _______________ weather
 others indicate _______________ (cumulonimbus)
 nimbus means _______________
o Stratus: flat layers
 can produce _______________ , rain or snow
 _______________ called nimbostratus
o Altocumulus and Altostratus: ______________ clouds
o Fog: cloud that forms on or near _______________
Air Masses and Fronts
Air Mass
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Air Mass is a huge body of air that has _______________ temperature, humidity and
air pressure.
There are 4 _______________ air masses
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Classified by the _______________ and _______________ content
o Polar: _______________
 Form north of the 50o N. Latitude or South of 50o S. Latitude
 _______________ air pressure
o Tropical: _______________
Maritime
 ____________ air pressure
Continental (dry)
(wet)
 form in the _____________
Tropical
Maritime
____________
o Maritime: _______________
(Warm)
________ Tropical
 Forms over ______________
Polar
________ Continental
o Continental: _____________ air
(Cold)
Polar
___________
 forms over ______________
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Air masses move 2 ways
o _______________ Streams
o Prevailing _______________
Front
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Front: the boundary where air masses _____________
Four types of fronts
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Cold Front: _______________ moving
o Can have thunderstorms
o heavy cold air pushes lighter _______ air upwards
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Warm Front: _______________ moving
o Precipitation
o Warm air __________ cold air by sliding over it
Stationary Front: Cold air and warm air are at a _________
o Precipitation can _______________ for days
o _______________ warm nor cold air advances
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Occluded Front: Warm air is _______ between 2 cool air fronts
o Very complex
o Precipitation
o Cold air is _______________ cool air at the surface
 warm caught air above
Cyclone and Anticyclone
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Cyclone: an area of _______________
pressure where wind spins counterclockwise
o Area of _______________
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Anticyclone: an area of _______________
pressure where wind spins clockwise
o _______________ dry weather
Storms
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Storms: _______________ disturbance in the atmosphere
Thunderstorms
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They form in a _______________ cumulonimbus cloud
o Thunderheads
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Form when warm air is forced ________ during a cold front
Form on _______________ & humid afternoons
Storm Movement
o Heavy _______________
o Strong _______________ within the cloud
 Lightening: _______________ particles travel between the
cloud and earth
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Tornadoes
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Tornado is a rapidly _______________ , funnel-shaped cloud
that reaches the earth.
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Form most commonly in cumulonimbus clouds
o Warm moist air from the bottom of the cloud flows
__________ (LOW PRESSURE _________ IN CLOUD)
 Warm air begins to _______________
 Tornado forms as the funnel _______________
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Measuring Tornadoes
o Fujita scale (F0-F5)
Hurricanes
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Hurricane: tropical cyclone that has _______________ of 119 km/hr or higher
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Formation of Hurricane
o Warm _______________ air rises around the eye in spiraling bands
o Air flow _______________ near the top of the hurricane
o Cool dry air _______________ in the eye
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Hurricanes form over _______________ ocean water
o As low pressure area or _______________ depression
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Hurricanes move in the _______________ by the Easterly Trade Winds
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Storm Surge: a _______________ of water that sweeps across the coast where the
hurricane lands.
Lake effect Snow:
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Cool dry air mass moves over a body of water and _______________ up water vapor
Snow _______________ after the water vapor condenses again.
Climate
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Scientists use two main factors—precipitation and temperature—to describe the
_______________ of a region
Factors affecting Temperature
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_______________ (distance from sea level)
Distance from bodies of _______________
_______________ currents
_______________ (distance from equator)
o World Temperature _______________
 Polar Zone: _______________ climates
 Temperate zone: warm or hot in _______________ , cool or cold in
_______________ .
 Tropical zone: _______________ climate
Factors affecting Precipitation
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Prevailing _______________
_______________
Seasonal _______________