1. Science News

2. The study of atmospheric phenomena
What is Meteorology?
The study of atmospheric phenomena
Greek root word meteoros.. High in the air

3. Examples of meteors…

4. Anything high in the sky
Raindrops
Rainbows
Dust
Snowflakes
Fog
Lighting

5. Atmosphere phenomena are classified as types of meteors
Hydrometeors: cloud droplets & precipitation (rain, snow & sleet)
Lithometeors: suspended particles (smoke, dust & haze)
Electrometers: signs of electricity (thunder & lighting)

6. Variations of Atmosphere Phenomena
Weather: short term variations in atmospheric phenomena
Climate: long term average of variations in weather for a particular area (over 30 years)

7. 4 causes of weather The uneven solar heating of the earth’s surface
Transfer of thermal energy (R,C,C)
Water phase change (E,C,P) releasing latent heat
Air masses traveling & colliding

9. Air Masses
Air Mass: a large body of air that has the same characteristics (Temperature & Moisture) as its source region
Source Region: area of earth’s surface that effects air mass formation
Air Mass Modification: As it moves over land or water with different characteristics, it transfers thermal energy and/or moisture

10. Air Mass Classification
Moisture: influenced by surface
designated m for maritime (wet) &
c for continental (dry)
Temperature: influenced by latitude
High Latitude = Cold & Low Latitude = Warm
A (arctic), P (polar) and T (tropical)

11. Mid latitudes are zones of clashing air masses = stormy

12. Air Masses Effecting North America
Much of the weather in North America, especially weather east of the Rocky Mountains, is influenced by
continental polar (cP) &
maritime tropical (mT) air masses.

13. HOMEWORK Review Notes Quiz Tomorrow Read Text p 312 – 316
Ch 12 Study Guide Sheet due Friday 4/3

14. What degree latitude is the Tropic of Cancer?
QUIZ
1. Define Weather
2. Define Climate
3. Name one cause of weather
4. Name the two classifications of air masses
5. (m) Maritime air mass has what characteristic?
BONUS
What degree latitude is the Tropic of Cancer?

15. Day & Night Across the Earth
Science News
Day & Night Across the Earth
Sun and Moon Data for CHICAGO IL

16. Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good

17. Continental polar (cP)
AIR MASSES & WEATHER
Continental polar (cP)
From northern Canada and interior of Alaska
Winter very cold, dry
Summer cool, dry
Responsible for lake-effect snows
Mass crosses the Great Lakes

18. AIR MASSES & WEATHER Maritime polar (mP)
From North (P)acific & (A)tlantic Oceans
Winter (P) mild, humid (A) cold, humid
Summer (P) mild, humid (A) cold, humid
Influence in the northeastern & western United States causing cold temperatures and snow

19. Continental tropical (cT)
AIR MASSES & WEATHER
Continental tropical (cT)
From Southwest and Mexico
Winter warm, dry
Summer hot, dry

20. Maritime tropical (mT)
AIR MASSES & WEATHER
Maritime tropical (mT)
From the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean
Winter warm, humid
Summer hot, humid
Eastern USA Usually unstable!

21. What is WIND?
The horizontal motion of air across Earth’s surface; movement produced by differences in air pressure from an area of high pressure (warm air) to an area of low pressure (cool air)

22. GLOBAL WINDS

23. Global Winds
The atmosphere balances differences of unequal heating by acting as a giant heat-transfer system. This system moves warm air toward high latitudes and cool air toward the equator

24. GLOBAL Direction of WIND
Makes no sense without caption in book

25. 3 WIND SYSTEMS “ZONES” Polar easterlies
60 DEGREES – POLES N & S LATITUDES
Dense cold air sinking from the polar high toward the sub polar low. These winds are not constant like the trade winds.

26. Westerlies 30 – 60 DEGREES N & S LATITUDES
Dominant and steady surface wind moving west-to-east towards the POLES. Move much of the weather across USA & Canada.

27. Trade winds 30 degrees N – 30 degrees S LATITUDES
Two belts of winds, air in this region sinks, warms and moves toward the equator in an easterly direction.

28. Boundaries of Wind Systems
JET STREAM: A narrow band of fast moving wind that varies with seasons
Result of the difference between air masses (Temperature & Pressure) at the wind zone boundaries.

29. Separate polar easterlies from prevailing westerlies
2 Types of JETSTREAMS
Major
POLAR JET STREAM
Separate polar easterlies from prevailing westerlies
Move East to West
Latitudes 40 N- 60 N &
40 S-60 S

30. Separate trade winds from westerlies
Minor
Subtropical
Separate trade winds from westerlies
Latitudes 20 N – 30 N &
20 S – 30 S

31. Why are the winds systems broken into zones??
Coriolis effect

32. HOMEWORK Review Notes Quiz Tomorrow Read Text p 318-323
Ch 12 Study Guide Sheet due Friday 4/3