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: NSF
North Mississippi GK-8 NSF North Mississippi GK-8 NSF North
Mississippi GK-8 NSF North Mississippi GK-8 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: 2.1The atmospheres air pressure changes.
2.2The atmosphere has wind patterns. 2.3Most clouds form as air
rises and cools. 2.4Water falls to the Earths 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 PressureBarometer CondensationCoriolis Effect
doldrumsdew point evaporationEasterlies Global Windscirrus clouds
horse latitudeshumidity local windscumulus clouds Jet StreamMonsoon
Trade windsWeather westerliesWind acid rainsaturation relative
humiditystratus clouds NSF North Mississippi GK-8 NSF North
Mississippi GK-8
Weather Vocab. Terms Chapter three: Tropical stormHurricane Storm
surgeblizzard Thunderstormtornado Meteorologistisobar 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)
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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
groups detailed procedure Create a neat, organized chart to record
your groups 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.
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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 NSF North Mississippi GK-8 NSF
North Mississippi GK-8
Air exerts Pressure Air Pressure:the force of air moleculespushing
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 NSF North Mississippi GK-8 Uneven
Heating of Earth:
N/S poles:spread out sunlight, less of suns 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 Earths Rotation
Affects Wind Direction
Coriolis Effect:The influence of Earths 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 Earths 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 equator Warm air rises & spreads
toward poles Rising moist air -->clouds & heavy rain (2)
Horse Latitudes: High pressure 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
toEquator 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 Earths 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)
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3 Main Cloud Types: Cloud sizes/shapes determined by air movt
Cirrus Curl of hair Puffy clouds--> air moves sharply
up/downFeathery/wispy Flat, smooth clouds --> air rises
graduallyContrails show direction of wind Composition affected by
location:high altitudes--> ice crystalsFair 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 movt 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 NSF North Mississippi GK-8
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, Occluded fronts can
signal weakening of storm. Accessed 28 October Palmer, Chad and
Kepple, Kevin. May 20, High-pressure systems brings sunny days.
Accessed 27 October 2005. Palmer, Chad and Kepple, Kevin. May 20,
How low pressure systems affect weather. Accessed 27 October
Weather World 2010, University of Illinois. No date of publication
given. Reading and Interpreting Weather Maps. Accessed 21 October
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
thats below sea level to be higher or lower than air pressure at
sea level?Why? NSF North Mississippi GK-8