Weather #14

Values Temperature Dew Point Air Pressure Density Measurement of molecular movement Dew Point Temp to which air becomes saturated Air Pressure Amount of air above you Density number of particles occupying a particular space.

Solar Energy Drives earth’s processes Most all energy comes from the sun Radiation Conduction Convection

Cloud Formation Warm moist air rises, expands, cools and condenses Solid particles such as dust and salt must be present in order for water vapor to condense 4 different ways Convection Lifting Orographic lifting wind encounters mountains and is force up Convergence Lifting convergence of opposing air masses Frontal Lifting warm or less dense air mass lifted by a cold or more-dense air mass

Types of Clouds Classified based on cloud height and shape Shape nimbostratus Classified based on cloud height and shape Shape Cirrus whispy, stringy clouds Cumulus puffy, lumpy-looking clouds Stratus featureless sheets of clouds Nimbus low, gray rain clouds. cirrus cumulus

Weather Climate Air Masses current state of the atmosphere. Long-term variations in weather for a particular area. averaged over the course of 30 years or more. Air Masses large body of air source region form over land = dry form over water = moist

Station model Data for a particular site at a particular time.

Weather Maps Isopleths - connecting points which have an equal value Isobars – lines of equal pressure. Bars are close together = High winds Bars are far apart = light winds

Isotherms – lines of equal temperature

Global Wind Systems Coriolis Effect Earth rotates from west to east air particles are deflected to the right above the equator to the left below equator Coriolis Effect Video

Jet Streams Narrow bands of fast, high-altitude, winds flow at speeds up to 185 km/h 2 in northern hemisphere Mid-Latitude Subtropical http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/balloon/science/jetstream.html