Transcript 5.4 Air Masses & Fronts Notes

Science Starter
4/29/15
1. Which type of air is more dense, warm air or
cold air?
2. Fill in the boxes below by using your answer.
What would the air particles look like in cold
Cold Air
Warm Air
vs. warm air?
3. Which block above do you think would be
stronger or have more “power?”
Lesson Essential Question
How can we use a map and frontal
boundaries to predict potential
weather conditions?
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Science Starter
Rugby Video
Frontal Boundary Notes
Gallery Crawl
Practice
Exit Ticket
Quick Review
D
C
B
A
More QUICK Review
• Which of the layers of the atmosphere
experiences the greatest amount of pressure?
• Which of the layers of the atmosphere is the
farthest away from the earth?
• Which layer of the atmosphere is the warmest?
• Which layer of the atmosphere does weather
occur in?
• What is the difference between weather and
climate?
Time for a Video!
Rubgy video
Air Mass 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
7
Different Types of Air Masses
Air Masses are characterized by the surface
they form over. (MOISTURE and
TEMPERATURE)
• Moisture of the source
– Continental: forms over land (DRY)
– Maritime: forms over water (HUMID)
• Temperature of the source
– Polar: forms in polar area (COLD)
– Tropical: forms in tropical area (WARM)
8
Where would the 4 different air
masses originate?
mT, mP, cP, cT
Fronts
• The boundary that separates two air masses
when they meet
• There are 4 types of fronts…
11
Gallery Crawl Time!
•Place your belongings under your tables
•Grab your note sheet
•Make sure you have something to write with
Let’s Quickly Recap
Warm Fronts
• Warm air moves into an area formerly covered
by cool air.
• Light to moderate precipitation is created. This
precipitation covers a large area and lasts for an
extended period of time.
• A gradual increase in temperature also occurs
when a warm front passes.
Symbol
Cold Fronts
• Cold, dense air moves into a region occupied
originally by warmer air.
• Temperatures drop after a cold front passes.
• Heavy precipitation is found at a cold front because
of the violent updraft created by the two air masses
colliding, but this weather clears quickly after the
front passes through an area.
• Cold fronts move more quickly than warm fronts.
Symbol
Occluded Fronts
– An active cold front overtakes a warm front (two
fronts are involved, rather than two air masses).
– Complex weather systems are created as a result.
Symbol
Stationary Fronts
• Air flows between a warm and cold front.
• Gentle to moderate precipitation occurs along
a stationary front.
Symbol
Now Let’s Check for
Understanding!
1) What’s the difference between a warm front
and a cold front?
2) Which forms faster, a warm front or a cold
front?
3) What type of weather is associated with warm
fronts?
4) What type of weather is associated with cold
fronts?
5) What happens at a stationary front?
Diagram of the two main fronts!
What kinds of fronts appear here?
• http://willardscience7.pds.wikispaces.net/file/
view/curwx_600x405.jpg/200612280/curwx_
600x405.jpg
What’s Goin’ On?
Comparing & Contrasting
Cyclonic Systems
With your table, complete a VENN DIAGRAM on
hurricanes vs. tornadoes
(Use your textbook - pages 573-577)
→Each group will be responsible for writing one thing for
the class consensus Venn Diagram on the board
→at least 2 points comparing the two systems
→at least 4 points on their differences.
Consider:
- speed
- greatest damage
- location of formation
- time of formation/
predictability
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Comparing and Contrasting
Tornadoes and Hurricanes
•Spinning
systems
of low
pressure
•High
speed
winds
Hurricanes
● Boundary: Hurricanes are not associated with fronts
● Front Symbol
● Pre-Weather: Rain and wind, cloudy skies
● Post-Weather: Some rain, wind, and usually clear
skies
● Pressure: 920-1000 mb
● Isobars:
● Wind speed: 74 - 210
Tornadoes
● Boundary: Tornadoes generally form at occluded
fronts
● Front Symbol:
● Pre-Weather: Warm, humid air collides with cold, dry
air
● Post-Weather: Mostly calm, potential for winds
● Pressure: 850 to 1000 mb
● Isobars:
● Wind speed: 40-318 mph
Exit Ticket Time
Questions?
Clear your desks!