Download Quarter 4 - Weather Unit Objectives: Compare the composition

Quarter 4 - Weather Unit
Objectives:
 Compare the composition, properties and structure of Earth’s atmosphere to include: mixtures of gases and differences
in temperature and pressure within layers.
 Explain the relationship between the movement of air masses, high and low pressure systems, and frontal boundaries
to storms (including thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes) and other weather conditions that may result.
 Predict weather conditions and patterns based on information obtained from:
a. Weather data collected from direct observations and measurement (wind speed and direction, air temperature,
humidity and air pressure)
b. Weather maps
c. satellites and radar
d. Cloud shapes and types
 Explain the influence of convection, global winds and the jet stream on weather and climatic conditions
Essential Vocabulary: altitude, density, troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, exosphere, air pressure, barometer, molecule, water
cycle, air mass, maritime, tropical, continental, polar, front, cold front, warm front, occluded front, stationary front, thunderstorm,
hurricane, tornado, flood, blizzard, weather map, anemometer, humidity, air quality, jet stream, Coriolis Effect, global winds, trade
winds, westerlies, easterlies, horse latitudes, convection, radiation, nitrogen , synoptic weather map, fog
symbols used for air masses: mE, mT, mP, cT, cP, cA, cAA
Essential Questions:
1. How does the temperature change as altitude increases in the troposphere?, Why is the air pressure heavier closer to the surface of
the Earth?
2. Why is it helpful to have ozone in the stratosphere, but not in the troposphere?, Why is the ozone layer of the stratosphere important
for scientists to study?
3. How does air pressure differ between the top and the bottom of a mountain?, What causes your ears to "pop" when you take off in
an airplane?
4. How does the water cycle affect weather patterns on earth?
5. Explain the difference between a maritime and a continental air mass.
6. How do continental and polar air masses differ?
7. If you heard a weather report state that the barometer was falling, what would you suppose it meant?
8. Why is the air "thinner" at the highest reaches of our atmosphere?
9. How does a cloud form?, Which types of clouds would signal dangerous weather and why?
10. What kind of weather follows a cold front? A warm front? A stationary front? An occluded front?
11. How do meteorologists predict the weather?
12. Explain the difference between weather and climate.
13. How does the jet stream affect weather in the United States?
14. How does the Coriolis Effect affect flight travel in the United States?
15. Which layers of the atmosphere have the highest pressure and why?
16. Why is the troposphere referred to as the zone of weather?
17. Why is warm air less dense than cold air?
18. Explain how wind is created.
19. Name and describe the three global wind patterns.
20. What three things are needed to create weather?
Helpful Websites:
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/index.htm
http://edheads.org/activities/weather/index.shtml
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=26860&CategoryID=2666
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/atmos/layers.htm
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/NR_WQ_2011-9.pdf
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2001/es2001page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
http://itg1.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/AckermanKnox/chap9/airmass_rev.html
http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/severe.htm
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/gather_data/
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents/05currents1.html
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/greenhouse-effect/?ar_a=1
http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/globalwarming.html