Download Seasons, Air, Atmosphere, and Storms Test Study

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Air, Atmosphere, Fronts, Air Masses, Wind Study Guide
This completed study guide is DUE 3/14/17. Test 3/16/17
AIR MASSES and WEATHER FRONTS Ch. 16 section 2 p. 490 – 493 (Air Mass Map and Weather Fronts Foldable)
1.
What are the two ways air masses are characterized?
Moisture (humidity) and temperature
2.
What is the difference between a maritime and a continental air mass?
Maritime forms over water and brings wet air. Continental forms over land and brings dry air
3.
What is the difference between a polar and tropical air mass?
Polar forms in cold areas and brings cool weather. Tropical forms in warm areas and brings warm weather.
4.
Where would you find a continental polar air mass in the US? What type of weather would it bring?
Coming from the North (Canada) to the South (Texas) It would bring cold, dry weather
5.
How does a cold front form? What kind of weather does a cold front bring? Draw and label a picture.
A cold front forms where cold air moves under warm air, which is less dense, and pushes the warm air up. Cold
fronts can move quickly and bring thunderstorms, heavy rains, or snow.
6.
How does a warm front form? What kind of weather does a warm front bring? Draw and label a picture.
A warm front forms where warm air moves over cold, denser air. In a warm front, the warm air gradually replaces
the cold air. Warm fronts generally bring drizzly rain and are followed by clear and warm weather.
7.
How does a stationary front form? What kind of weather does a stationary front bring? Draw and label a picture.
A stationary front froms when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass. Both air masses do not have enough force to
lift the warm air mass over the cold air mass so the two air masses remain separated. A stationary front often brings
many days of cloudy, wet weather.
8.
How does an occluded front form? What kind of weather does an occluded front bring? Draw and label a picture.
An occluded front forms when a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses. The coldest air mas moves
under and pushes up the warm air mass. The coldest air mass then moves forward until it meets a cold air mass that
is warmer and less dense. An occluded front has cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow.
See foldable and/or page 492 -493 in textbook for drawings
WINDS Ch. 15 section 3 p. 458 – 463 (Global Winds)
9.
What causes wind?
The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure is called wind.
10. Draw and label a sea breeze and a land breeze. Label the direction of the wind, high and low pressure, temperatures.
11. Describe global winds. Use 10 of the following 15 terms in your description: high air pressure, low air pressure, more
dense, less dense, rises, sinks, convection currents, 30o latitude, equator, poles, more direct sunlight, difference in air
pressure, Coriolis effect, warm temperature, cool temperature
The earth is divided into 30o latitude pressure bands. The equator gets more direct sunlight, so hot air rises due to
being less dense and creates an area of low pressure. At 30o latitude the air cools, sinks, and makes an area of high
pressure. A wind thus blows from the high pressure to the low pressure area, you get a global wind. This also
happens at 60 and 90 latitude. The winds do not blow straight, but curve because of the Coriolis effect – the Earth is
rotating.