Weather Songhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD4hSW2mys0

Co

Air MassesAir masses are large bodies of air that are horizontally uniform in characteristics, like temperature and moisture content

Continental = dryMaritime = moist

Polar = coldTropical = warm/hotArctic = extremely cold

mP cP

mP

mT

cTmT

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gc7puH279s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFAkqHyFtkA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgqkc2YJ1Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWcARUmB0cQ

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/prcp.rxml

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsD6zkBMmck&app=desktop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5Md8HKDIws&app=desktop

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYyCurh_SU

Fronts and Pressure Systems

Global Forces - WindsCoriolis Effect Trade Winds

90°

60°

30°

0°

30°

60

90

The Earth’s Rotation causes surface currents to move in curved paths rather than a straight line.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2mec3vgeaI

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.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdGtcZSFRLk

Polar Easterlies

Tradewinds

Polar Easterlies

Tradewinds

Westerlies

Westerlies

Global Forces - WaterGyres Deep Ocean Currents

Any large system of rotating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movementshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6i16CrI8ss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqZjvD_Xs4k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6i16CrI8ss&feature=player_detailpage

- 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 StreamA 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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-zO8L66uyg

Jet StreamA 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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgMWwx7Cll4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huweohIh_Bw

Rainfall PatternsRains 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 SouthWet and cold in North

Dry and cool AUSTRALIA WEATHER

Mild and wet

El Nino La Nina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9itg7pPC0chttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uySu7Zv2cbU

HurricanesHURRICANES PROPERTIESWIND 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp5AzO8_YPg

Hurricane Sandy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8XY_CrTPdk

Windward (side is

wet)Leeward

(side is dry)

Windward and Leeward

Land Breeze – Sea Breeze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0d3fGew-0