The Causes of Weather SWBAT compare and contrast weather and climate; analyze how imbalances in the heating of Earth’s surface create weather; describe how and where air masses form.

Meteorology Meteorology What are types of atmospheric “meteors”? The study of atmospheric phenomena What are types of atmospheric “meteors”? Clouds, raindrops, snowflakes, fog, dust, and rainbows Hydrometeors Cloud droplets and forms of precipitation Lithometeors Smoke, haze, dust, and other condensation nuclei Electrometeors Thunder and lightening, visible or audible manifestations of atmospheric electricity

Weather and Climate Weather Climate The current state of the atmosphere Climate Long-term variations in weather for a particular area How are weather and climate similar? Both deal with atmospheric phenomena, and refer to temperature, humidity, precipitation patterns, etc. How are weather and climate different? Weather is short term – what’s happening now. Climate is a long term analysis of weather patterns.

Weather and Climate How is heat energy redistributed around the world? The sun’s rays heat the earth, but the continual motion of air and water reallocates it on earth’s surface, oceans, and atmosphere. How does the imbalance of Earth’s heating create weather? What we consider weather (thunderstorms, convection currents, etc.) is caused by the redistribution of heat energy. Diffusion plays a role by moving a mass of hot or cold air from an area of high concentration to low, in an attempt to evenly distribute it.

Get your Lab notebook Title: How does the angle of the Sun’s rays differ? Turn to page 302 in your books and read through the lab instructions. Complete the Analyze and Conclude section in your lab notebook.

Air Masses Air mass Air mass modification A large body of air that takes on the characteristics of the area over which it forms. Air mass modification When an air mass moves over a region different from itself, it then acquires characteristics of the region beneath it.

Air Masses Continental Tropical Maritime Tropical Dry and warm Desert southwest and Mexico are source regions Maritime Tropical Moist and warm Form in tropical and subtropical oceans, like the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico

Air masses Continental polar Maritime polar Arctic Cold and dry Form over the interior of Canada and Alaska Maritime polar Cold and humid Form over the cold water of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans Arctic Similar to continental polar, but colder Develops over latitudes above 60°N in regions of Siberia and the Arctic Basin

With a Partner Answer questions 1-5 on page 304. Be sure to answer in complete sentences and restate the question in your answer. Finish for homework.