Weather Song

Co Air Masses Air masses are large bodies of air that are horizontally uniform in characteristics, like temperature and moisture content Continental = dry Maritime = moist Polar = cold Tropical = warm/hot Arctic = extremely cold mP cP mP mT cT mT

Fronts Front – boundary separating air masses, zone of transition Cold Front – cold air replaces warm air at the surface, most violent weather Warm Front – warm air replaces cold air at surface, usually northeast of a cold front Stationary front – doesn’t move, behaves like a warm front Occluded front – when cold front “catches” a warm front, mature storm systems

Pressure Systems High pressure system (H) – typical for summertime Texas weather patterns Low pressure system (L)– storm system, can travel thousands of miles and are responsible for the majority of precipitation

Fronts and Pressure Systems Warm Front Stationary Front Cold Front Occluded Front

Fronts and Pressure Systems

Fronts and Pressure Systems

Global Forces - Winds Coriolis EffectTrade Winds 90° 60° 30° 0° 30° The Earth’s Rotation causes surface currents to move in curved paths rather than a straight line. Affected by their latitude and the Coriolis Effect. In the tropics and poles, the winds blow from east to west. In the temperate climates, they blow from west to east. Polar Easterlies Tradewinds Polar Easterlies Tradewinds Westerlies

Global Forces - Water Gyres Deep Ocean Currents Any large system of rotating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements Deep cold currents move water toward equator - Cold water warms and rises to replace warm water leaving - Warm water travels on surface toward poles - Warm water replaces cold water

Gulf Stream A powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic Ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, follows the east coast and moves toward Great Britain. It is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. Gulf Stream

Jet Stream A fast flowing, narrow air current found in the atmosphere, usually separating cold air masses from warm air masses. Cold Air Warm Air In the winter, it comes down lower, bringing cold air with it. In the summer, it moves higher pushing the cold air north. Cold Air Warm Air

Rainfall Patterns Rains all year long – from -5° to 8°Summer rain, winter dry – from 8° to 20° and -5° to -15°Dry all year – from 20° to 32° and -15° to -30°Winter rain, summer dry – from 32° to 45° and -30° to -40°Precipitation all year, more in summer – from 45° to 70° and - 40° to -65° Little precipitation all year – from 70° to 90° and -65° to -90°

Humidity Amount of water vapor in the air Tells us the likelihood of precipitation, dew, and fog Calculated into the heat index temperature

El Nino & La Nina Weaken from east WINDS Strengthen from east Flows toward east WARM WATER Move farther west Mild and wet U.S. WEATHER Dry and warm in South Wet and cold in North Dry and cool AUSTRALIA WEATHER Mild and wet El Nino La Nina

Hurricanes HURRICANESPROPERTIES WIND SPEED 74 mph – 286 mph SIZE Anywhere from 100 to 500 miles wide DURATION 2-4 weeks How does the ocean play a role in the formation? - A column of hot air from the Sahara that is three miles high spreads and picks up moisture from warm water (summer) and continues this process westward forming a tropical storm and then a hurricane. Hurricane Katrina: Hurricane Sandy:

Windward (side is wet) Leeward (side is dry) Windward and Leeward

Land Breeze – Sea Breeze