The Causes of WeatherThe Causes of Weather

SWBAT compare and contrast weather and SWBAT compare and contrast weather and climate; analyze how imbalances in the climate; analyze how imbalances in the

heating of Earth’s surface create weather; heating of Earth’s surface create weather; describe how and where air masses form.describe how and where air masses form.

MeteorologyMeteorology

Meteorology Meteorology – The study of atmospheric phenomenaThe study of atmospheric phenomena

What are types of atmospheric “meteors”?What are types of atmospheric “meteors”?– Clouds, raindrops, snowflakes, fog, dust, and rainbowsClouds, raindrops, snowflakes, fog, dust, and rainbows

Hydrometeors Hydrometeors – Cloud droplets and forms of precipitation Cloud droplets and forms of precipitation

Lithometeors Lithometeors – Smoke, haze, dust, and other condensation nuclei Smoke, haze, dust, and other condensation nuclei

Electrometeors Electrometeors – Thunder and lightening, visible or audible manifestations Thunder and lightening, visible or audible manifestations

of atmospheric electricity of atmospheric electricity

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

Weather Weather – The current state of the atmosphereThe current state of the atmosphere

ClimateClimate– Long-term variations in weather for a particular area Long-term variations in weather for a particular area

How are weather and climate similar?How are weather and climate similar?– Both deal with atmospheric phenomena, and refer to Both deal with atmospheric phenomena, and refer to

temperature, humidity, precipitation patterns, etc.temperature, humidity, precipitation patterns, etc. How are weather and climate different?How are weather and climate different?

– Weather is short term – what’s happening now.Weather is short term – what’s happening now.– Climate is a long term analysis of weather patterns.Climate is a long term analysis of weather patterns.

Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate

How is heat energy redistributed around the How is heat energy redistributed around the world?world?– The sun’s rays heat the earth, but the continual motion The sun’s rays heat the earth, but the continual motion

of air and water reallocates it on earth’s surface, of air and water reallocates it on earth’s surface, oceans, and atmosphere.oceans, and atmosphere.

How does the imbalance of Earth’s heating create How does the imbalance of Earth’s heating create weather?weather?– What we consider weather (thunderstorms, convection What we consider weather (thunderstorms, convection

currents, etc.) is caused by the redistribution of heat currents, etc.) is caused by the redistribution of heat energy. Diffusion plays a role by moving a mass of hot energy. Diffusion plays a role by moving a mass of hot or cold air from an area of high concentration to low, in or cold air from an area of high concentration to low, in an attempt to evenly distribute it.an attempt to evenly distribute it.

Get your Lab notebookGet your Lab notebook

Title: How does the angle of the Sun’s rays Title: How does the angle of the Sun’s rays differ?differ?

Turn to page 302 in your books and read Turn to page 302 in your books and read through the lab instructions.through the lab instructions.

Complete the Analyze and Conclude section Complete the Analyze and Conclude section in your lab notebook.in your lab notebook.

Air MassesAir Masses

Air mass Air mass – A large body of air that takes on the A large body of air that takes on the

characteristics of the area over which it forms.characteristics of the area over which it forms.

Air mass modification Air mass modification – When an air mass moves over a region different When an air mass moves over a region different

from itself, it then acquires characteristics of the from itself, it then acquires characteristics of the region beneath it.region beneath it.

Air MassesAir Masses

Continental TropicalContinental Tropical– Dry and warmDry and warm– Desert southwest and Mexico are source Desert southwest and Mexico are source

regions regions

Maritime TropicalMaritime Tropical– Moist and warmMoist and warm– Form in tropical and subtropical oceans, like the Form in tropical and subtropical oceans, like the

Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of MexicoCaribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico

Air massesAir masses Continental polarContinental polar

– Cold and dryCold and dry– Form over the interior of Canada and AlaskaForm over the interior of Canada and Alaska

Maritime polarMaritime polar– Cold and humidCold and humid– Form over the cold water of the North Atlantic and North Form over the cold water of the North Atlantic and North

Pacific oceansPacific oceans ArcticArctic

– Similar to continental polar, but colderSimilar to continental polar, but colder– Develops over latitudes above 60Develops over latitudes above 60°N in regions of °N in regions of

Siberia and the Arctic BasinSiberia and the Arctic Basin

With a PartnerWith a Partner

Answer questions 1-5 on page 304.Answer questions 1-5 on page 304. Be sure to answer in complete sentences Be sure to answer in complete sentences

and restate the question in your answer.and restate the question in your answer. Finish for homework.Finish for homework.