Weather & ClimateWeather & Climate

WeatherWeather

• Weather Weather is the daily is the daily temperature, wind temperature, wind speed, & humidity speed, & humidity

• An air massAn air mass is a large is a large area of air with the area of air with the same temperature, same temperature, density, & humidity .density, & humidity .

• FrontsFronts are the are the boundaries between boundaries between air masses.air masses.

Pair share: A point out to B where the fronts meet in the bottom picture.

Three kinds of fronts Stationery FrontsStationery Fronts

Cold & warm air meetCold & warm air meet They move side by side along the They move side by side along the

frontfront

Warm Fronts = mild rainWarm Fronts = mild rain Warm air moves Warm air moves slowlyslowly up over cold up over cold Air cools, forms clouds (cirrus, Air cools, forms clouds (cirrus,

cumulus)cumulus) Later rain clouds are formed.Later rain clouds are formed.

Cold Fronts = Severe weatherCold Fronts = Severe weather Cold air moves in Cold air moves in quicklyquickly under under

warmer airwarmer air Warmer air is pushed up quicklyWarmer air is pushed up quickly Thunderstorms, maybe tornadoesThunderstorms, maybe tornadoes

Severe WeatherSevere Weather

HurricanesHurricanes Begin over warm Begin over warm

oceans, in late oceans, in late summersummer

Energy is released Energy is released from condensing from condensing cloudsclouds

Extreme low Extreme low pressure in the pressure in the “eye”“eye”

Topography Impacts WeatherTopography Impacts Weather

Mountains cause moist air from oceans to rise, Mountains cause moist air from oceans to rise, condense, and precipitatecondense, and precipitate

On the far side there is a rain shadow ( desert)On the far side there is a rain shadow ( desert)Pair share: B tell A where you think the rain shadows are in the US? Hint: moist air comes in from the ocean the green represents mountains.

Flat TopographyFlat Topography

Flat plains of the Flat plains of the Midwest do not Midwest do not stop wind flowstop wind flow ““Tornado alley”. Tornado alley”.

TornadosTornados: : Funnels of high-speed Funnels of high-speed windwind Occur when warm, moist air from Gulf Occur when warm, moist air from Gulf

meets cool, dry air from Canadameets cool, dry air from Canada

Why seasons?Why seasons?

Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degreesEarth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees

In winter, the hemisphere tiltsIn winter, the hemisphere tilts away away from sun.from sun.

In summer, it tilts In summer, it tilts towardstowards the sun the sun

ClimateClimate

It’s the It’s the averageaverage weather of a regionweather of a region

Sonoma has a Sonoma has a Mediterranean Mediterranean climateclimate Wet , mild winters Wet , mild winters

and dry summersand dry summers

Rheinland, Germany

Napa, CA

White board: what is the difference between climate and weather?

Equatorial climateEquatorial climate

Sun’s rays hitting the equator are more Sun’s rays hitting the equator are more directdirect

Climate is hot and wet year-roundClimate is hot and wet year-round

Arctic ClimateArctic ClimateCold and Dry year round Cold and Dry year round

the sun does not sets for the sun does not sets for 2-3 months of the year 2-3 months of the year and does not rise for and does not rise for another 2-3 months.another 2-3 months.

Ice Hotel, Alaska

Climate changeClimate change

Ice ages have Ice ages have covered most of covered most of America in the past. America in the past.

Age of dinosaurs: Age of dinosaurs: palm trees in Alaska!palm trees in Alaska!

Climate will continue Climate will continue to change over time.to change over time.

ReviewReview

What happens after a What happens after a cold front moves in? cold front moves in?

What causes the What causes the seasons?seasons?

What part of the world What part of the world has the longest has the longest nights?nights?

SummarySummary

Main ideaMain idea

Important ideas / topicsImportant ideas / topics

key factskey facts

How the facts relate to the main ideaHow the facts relate to the main idea