WARM-UP Which type of air is more dense, warm air or cold air? Complete the boxes below by using your answer from #1. What would the air particles look like in cold vs. warm air? 3. Which block above do you think would be stronger or have more “power?” Cold Air Warm Air Ideas: Give each student a section and have them look up the information and then describe the item to class.

Objective We will be able to describe the weather patterns associated with warm and cold fronts

Agenda Warm Up Fronts Notes Practice Charlotte weather tracker Exit Ticket

Quote of the Day “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will.” ~Vincent T. Lombardi

Quick Review

Layers of the Atmosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere

Air Masses 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

What is an air mass? This slide doesn’t go in your notes An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout An air mass gets its temperature and moisture from the area over which it forms (for example: any air mass that develops over the Gulf of Mexico will be warm and wet because the Gulf of Mexico is warm and wet)

Air Masses Moisture of source Temperature of source Continental: forms over land (DRY) Maritime: forms over water (HUMID) Temperature of source Polar: forms in polar area (COLD) Tropical: forms in tropical area (WARM) Arctic: forms over the arctic ocean (COLD)

Practice – Complete the chart based on what you just learned. Air Mass Abbreviation Description Continental Polar Maritime Tropical Maritime Polar Continental Tropical Continental Artic Maritime Artic

Air Masses Continental Polar (cP) Air Mass – Air masses that form over cold, dry land Maritime Tropical (mT) Air Mass - Air masses that form over warm water Maritime Polar (mP) Air Mass - Air masses that form over cold water. Continental Tropical (cT) Air Mass - Air masses that form over warm, dry land

Types of Air Masses Arctic Air (A) – originates from the Arctic Ocean Continental Arctic (cA): Produces extremely cold temperatures and very little moisture. It originates over the Arctic Ocean in winter. Maritime Arctic (mA): From the same source, but less dry and less cold!

Types of Air Masses Polar Air (P) – originates from both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean Continental Polar (cP): Cold and dry air that originates from high latitudes. This type of air brings the cold, dry and clear weather on perfect winter days and the dry and warm weather on summer days! Maritime Polar (mP): Cool and moist – the air moves over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This type of air is unstable which usually results in showers over the sea and windward coasts (like the West Coast).

Types of Air Masses Tropical Air (T) – originating from the southern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Continental Tropical (cT): Hot and very dry – it comes from the arid (dry) and desert regions during the summer. Maritime Tropical (mT): Mild and damp in winter, very warm and muggy during the summer.

Where would the 6 different air masses originate? mA, mT, mP, cP, cT, cA In your notes draw the picture and where the different air masses would be located. Use blue for cold air masses and red for warm air masses.

Fronts The boundary that separates two air masses when they meet There are 4 types of fronts… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPC5i6w3yDI

ACTIVITY Type of Front Description of Front Draw a picture of symbol Description of Weather that occurs during this type of front. Warm Front Cold Front Occlude Front Stationary Front Large posters to demonstrate the different frontal systems.

Warm Fronts Warm air mass meets and rises above cold air mass slow and steady rain followed by hot, humid weather Gentle/slower formation

Cold Fronts Cold air masses pushes under warm air mass forms faster Heavy rains and violent thunderstorms, followed by fair, cool weather Steeper/quicker formation

FAST FACT 40 to 50 percent of body heat can be lost through the head (no hat) as a result of its extensive circulatory network.

Occluded Fronts Cold front moves faster and passes warm front, wedges warm air upward Complex; Heavy rains followed by light precipitation for several days (mix of cold and warm front weather)

Like a horse race!! (Which rider represents a cold air mass and which represents a warm air mass?)

Stationary Fronts Front does not move b/c air flows parallel to front line Gentle to moderate precipitation

What’s the difference between a warm front and a cold front? Which forms faster, a warm front or a cold front? What type of weather is associated with warm fronts? What type of weather is associated with cold fronts? What happens at a stationary front?

Exit Ticket Time What type of boundary is illustrated in the map to the right? What type of weather will Charlotte be experiencing? Draw and label the frontal boundary symbol for warm fronts and occluded fronts.

Practice with a Partner

METEOROLOGIST CHALLENGE Think you can do it???

http://willardscience7. pds. wikispaces. net/file/view/curw x_600x405 http://willardscience7.pds.wikispaces.net/file/view/curw x_600x405.jpg/200612280/curwx_600x405.jpg