Section 3.2: Weather Factors Main Idea: Water vapor and wind currents form different patterns of precipitation. Landforms can also influence temperatures and precipitation. Next write the bold vocab words for 3.2. and place in Binder. Get out another piece of paper & title it 3.2 notes.

Read to Discover What are the common forms of precipitation, and how are they formed? How do mountains and elevation affect weather and climate? What are the different types of storms, and how do they form?

Formation of Precipitation Condensation clouds, dew, fog, frost Evaporation- water changes liquid - solid Humidity –amount of water vapor (water as gas) Precipitation varies with air pressure. High pressure zone little precipitation – ex polar regions Low pressure zone more precipitation –ex :rainforest Formation of Precipitation Rain Snow Sleet Hail Condensation clouds, dew, fog, frost Evaporation Humidity water always played a role in the atmospheric process-without no clouds, rain or snow Evaporation occurs from our solid water sources like ocean-lakes It forms vapor- gas from of water ( higher the temp the more water vapor the air can hold, if air cools it can’t hold anymore and there is condensation. When enough condensation has occurred precipitation will be the result. Precipitation is usually higher in equatorial areas and middle latitudes Precipitation is lowest on high pressure zones in the poles

Rain—Liquid formed through condensation of water vapor Forms of Precipitation Rain—Liquid formed through condensation of water vapor Snow—Ice crystals formed in clouds Sleet—Rain that freezes as it falls Hail—Chunks of ice formed in storm clouds

Elevation & Mountain Effects Increase in elevation = drop in temperature. Mountains =orographic effect: Moist air is pushed upward – cooling= condensation, & precipitation. Mountainside facing wind (air moving up) is the windward, wetter side; side facing away from wind (other side )is the leeward, drier side, = rain shadow. Elevation affects weather and climate In crease in elevation causes temperature to drop With a mountain it is warm at the bottom and cold at the top Mountains change climate because of the oragraphic effect Moist air pushes against a mountain and the air is forced to rise The rising air cools and condenses forming clouds and precipitation . As a result the side of the mountain facing the air being pushed up receives the most rain ( windward side of the mountain) The side that faces away ( leeward side ) receives no rain. Just an empty rain shadow.

Storms Storms-sudden violent weather events Middle-latitude (ex: Missouri-tornados) storms form when cold, dry polar air mixes with moist, warm tropical air. Examples include thunderstorms and tornadoes. Tropical storms are usually smaller and lack fronts. Examples include hurricanes and typhoons. Weather satellites are used to predict hurricanes Middle latitude storms can happen when we have cold high pressure air come down and hit warm low pressure air. USA experiences more tornados than any other country Tropical storms do not have fronts because they only deal with warm weather and no cold air. They travel to the west and form Hurricanes /typhoons weaken as they move inland but can destroy beaches and coastal areas. Hit picture to see how NASA is modernizing weather satellites 2014 2:00 min