Science Starter: Name the following weather people. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Iditarod Race 2010 “The Last Great Race” Official Race Site: http://www.iditarod.com/ NSF North Mississippi GK-8

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Some features of weather have predictable patterns. The Main Concept: Some features of weather have predictable patterns. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Smaller Key Concepts: 2.1 The atmosphere’s air pressure changes. 2.2 The atmosphere has wind patterns. 2.3 Most clouds form as air rises and cools. 2.4 Water falls to the Earth’s surface as precipitation. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Weather Fronts & Storms Weatherperson #1 NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Weather Fronts & Storms NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weatherperson #2

Weather Fronts & Storms NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weatherperson #3

Weather Fronts & Storms NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weatherperson #4

Weather Fronts & Storms NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weatherperson #5

Weather Vocabulary Terms: Chapter two: Air Pressure Barometer Condensation Coriolis Effect doldrums dew point evaporation Easterlies Global Winds cirrus clouds horse latitudes humidity local winds cumulus clouds Jet Stream Monsoon Trade winds Weather westerlies Wind acid rain saturation relative humidity stratus clouds NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weather Vocab. Terms Chapter three: Tropical storm Hurricane Storm surge blizzard Thunderstorm tornado Meteorologist isobar Low-Pressure system High-pressure system Front (cold, warm, stationary) Air mass (continental, maritime, polar, tropical) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Ms. Johnson is here right now. She really hopes the in-flight movie does not star any of the Jonas brothers. That would be bad. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Weather Work Time: Thurs. March 4 Students (this means you!) should work on the following: Weather Unit Vocab. Flashcards Find definitions only! We will cut after break! (Ms. Johnson worries when she thinks about you + scissors) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Ms. Johnson is here right now. She worked on vocabulary flashcards on the whole plane ride though. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Weather Work Time: Fri., March 5 Students (this means you!) should work on the following: A. Weather Unit Daily Work All weather unit daily work should be stapled to the weather daily work description worksheet! B. Weather Unit Vocab. Flashcards NSF North Mississippi GK-8

The Evaporation Challenge: Your task: Brainstorm & create the conditions to allow your wet paper towel to dry completely as quickly as possible. Materials: Each group will get… Paper towel, ____ mL water NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: Name at least two factors that affect the rate of evaporation. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Pre-Lab: Absorption of Heat by Water & Land Today: As a group you will… Brainstorm, design & write your group’s detailed procedure Create a neat, organized chart to record your group’s data All group members must have these items done for tomorrow! NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: In two complete sentences, describe: What causes tornadoes? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Science Starter Challenge: Name as many words as you possibly can that are related to “weather”. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 What is Weather? Weather: NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Science Starter: (matching) Precipitation Humidity Evaporation Condensation The amount of water vapor in air. Process where a liquid changes into a gas. Process where a gas changes into a liquid. Any liquid or solid that falls to the ground. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Temperature You will usually see temperature measured in °F for maps of the United States Maps of foreign countries will usually be measured in °C NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Relative Humidity The relative humidity tells us how “full” the air is at the time of measurement. For example, 90% relative humidity means that at that moment the air is holding 90% of the maximum amount of water it could. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Sven Asks: 1. Which would heat up more quickly, land or water? Why? 2. Which would cool off more quickly , land or water? Why? NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weatherperson #4

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NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Air exerts Pressure Air Pressure: the force of air molecules pushing on an area. The greater the force, the higher the pressure. Air molecules are always moving. Each time a molecule bounces off an object, it pushes, or exerts a force upon that object. NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Air molecules are always moving.

Air Pressure is Related to Altitude and Density Air pressure decreases as you move higher in the atmosphere (less air above you) Density of air decreases as you move higher in the atmosphere. Air pressure at any area on Earth depends on the weight of the air above that area. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Pressure & Air Motion Differences in pressure causes movement of air. High Air Pressure Low Air Pressure Low Air Pressure Movement of Air Air pressure can vary at any two locations at the same altitude. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Uneven Heating Causes Wind to Move Large pressure difference - strong wind Small pressure difference- slight wind Wind Wind: Air in motion. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

What causes local winds? Local winds: change daily, flow within a small area, typically flow in a regular pattern How would this local wind pattern change at night? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

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Uneven Heating of Earth: N/S poles: spread out sunlight, less of sun’s energy, cool & dense air, high pressure Equator: direct/strong sunlight, high temp. (warm air rises), low pressure Where on Earth would you expect > heating? Less heating? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Earth’s Rotation Affects Wind Direction Coriolis Effect: The influence of Earth’s rotation on winds & objects moving on Earth. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 High and Low Pressure Areas High pressure- air sinks Usually results in several days of clear sunny skies Air rises in low pressure areas and forms water droplets Usually results in rain and storms NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: How does the uneven heating of Earth’s surface cause winds to flow? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Measuring Air Pressure Barometer: an instrument that measures air pressure. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: Two barometers are placed one kilometer apart. One shows higher pressure than the other. What will happen to the air between them? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Global Winds Global winds: Travel thousands of kilometers in steady patterns. Global winds are caused by uneven heating between equator & N/S poles. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Calm Regions & Global Wind Belts (1) Doldrums: Low pressure zone @ equator Warm air rises & spreads toward poles Rising moist air -->clouds & heavy rain (2) Horse Latitudes: High pressure zones @ 30˚ N/S Warm air from equator cools & sinks Clear & dry weather Air usually stays calm in high/low pressure zones. Winds are light & often change direction. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Global Wind Belts: Trade Winds: Blow East from Horse latitudes to Equator Strong & steady. Die out as they reach equator Westerlies: (blow from the West) Blow from Horse latitudes to poles Bring storms across U.S. Dense air (in horse latitudes & other high pressure zones) moves toward low pressure zones (like the doldrums) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Easterlies: (blow from East) Blow from polar regions to mid-latitudes NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Science Starter: Calm Areas and Wind Belts Name Characteristics (1) A low-pressure zone near the equator. (2) High-pressure zone at about 30° N and 30° S of the equator. (3) Winds that blow from the East from the horse latitudes to the equator. (4) Winds that blow from the West from the horse latitudes to the poles. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Jet Streams Flow Near the Top of the Troposphere Not all long distance winds travel @ Earth’s surface. Jet Streams: Flow in a wavy pattern, move from W -->E, can pull cold air down into US, pull warm air up into Canada, flow faster than surface winds Each hemisphere has 2 jet streams: (1) Polar jet stream (2) Subtropical jet stream Jet Stream: Long distance wind that flows in the upper Troposphere. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Cloud Cover Symbols You will often see the circles drawn on a weather map NSF North Mississippi GK-8

Water Vapor Condenses & Forms Clouds Water vapor condenses when it reaches air saturation (dew point) Water vapor must condense on something solid (dust, smoke, solid) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 3 Main Cloud Types: Cloud sizes/shapes determined by air mov’t. Cirrus “Curl of hair” Puffy clouds--> air moves sharply up/down Feathery/wispy Flat, smooth clouds --> air rises gradually Contrails show direction of wind Composition affected by location: high altitudes--> ice crystals Fair weather low altitudes --> ice crystals & water droplets NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Stratus “spread out” Steady, light precipitation Form in layers when air cools & is lifted gently Smooth w/o strong air mov’t Low stratus clouds (dk. Grey) block out sun NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Cumulus “heap/pile” Puffy white w/ darker base “cotton balls” Warm air rises and condenses Can produce showers or thunderstorms (if it grows tall) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

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NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Clouds: Five Types of Clouds 1. High-Level Clouds: Usually found at greater than 20,000 ft. Usually made of ice crystals Examples include Cirrus, Cirrostratus NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Clouds: Five Types of Clouds 2. Mid-Level Clouds: Usually found between 6,500 and 20,000 ft. Usually made of water droplets, but can be made of ice Example is altocumulus NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Clouds: Five Types of Clouds 3. Low-Level Clouds: Usually found lower than 6,500 ft. Low, lumpy clouds that produce weak to moderate precipitation Examples include Nimbostratus and Stratocumulus NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Clouds: Five Types of Clouds 4. Vertically developed: These clouds are thick and puffy and extend very far upwards Examples include Cumulonimbus and Fair Weather Cumulus Ordinary Cumulus clouds can quickly become Cumulonimbus clouds that start strong thunderstorms NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Clouds: Five Types of Clouds 5. Other: These are miscellaneous clouds These clouds do not really fit into any category, and all have different characteristics Examples include billow clouds, contrails, mammatus, orographic, and pileus NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Air Masses (2 words) Air mass takes on characteristics of where it formed: 1. First Word: moisture Continental (land) Maritime (water) 2. Second Word: temperature Tropical (warm) Polar (cold) Continental p. 80 (in text) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts A front is the boundary separating air masses of different densities Fronts extend both vertically and horizontally in the atmosphere p. 83 (in textbook) NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts: 1. Cold Front: The zone where cold air is replacing warmer air In U.S., cold fronts usually move from northwest to southeast Air gets drier after a cold front moves through NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts: 2. Warm Front: The zone where warm air is replacing colder air In U.S., warm fronts usually move from southwest to northeast Air gets more humid after a warm front moves through NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts: 3. Stationary Front: When either a cold or warm front stops moving When the front starts moving again it returns to either being a cold or warm front NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts: Five Types of Fronts 4. Occluded Front: Formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front This occurrence usually results in storms over an area In U.S., the colder air usually lies to the west NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Fronts: Five Types of Fronts 5. Dry Line (Dew Point Front): Boundary separating a dry air mass from a moist air mass This occurrence can result in tornadoes being formed Usually found in western part of U.S. NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weather Maps: Pressure & Temperature NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Weather Maps: Doppler Radar Maps NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Summary Temperature: Usually in °F, need to convert to °C High pressure areas cause sunny weather; low pressure areas cause rain and storms Two Types of air masses: 1. Continental Polar 2. Maritime Tropical NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Summary (continued) Five types of fronts: 1. Cold 2. Warm 3. Stationary 4. Occluded 5. Dew Point (Dry Line) Five types of clouds: 1. High Level 2. Mid Level 3. Low Level 4. Vertically developed 5. Miscellaneous NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Sources Palmer, Chad and Evans, David. May 20, 2005. Occluded fronts can signal weakening of storm. Accessed 28 October 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wofront/wofront.htm Palmer, Chad and Kepple, Kevin. May 20, 2005. High-pressure systems brings sunny days. Accessed 27 October 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/whighp/whighp.htm Palmer, Chad and Kepple, Kevin. May 20, 2005. How low pressure systems affect weather. Accessed 27 October 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wlowpres/wlowpres.htm Weather World 2010, University of Illinois. No date of publication given. Reading and Interpreting Weather Maps. Accessed 21 October 2005. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/maps/home.rxml NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: The eardrum is a thin sheet of tissue that separates air in the middle ear from air in the outer ear. Why do our eardrums make popping noises when we take off in an airplane? NSF North Mississippi GK-8

NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Science Starter: Would you expect the air pressure in a valley that’s below sea level to be higher or lower than air pressure at sea level? Why? NSF North Mississippi GK-8