Chapter 8 Section 3-5 (section 1-2 info is in your Water Cycle Presentation)

Section 3 Air Masses- a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at a given height. Types of air masses: Maritime Tropical Maritime Tropical Maritime Polar Maritime Polar Continental Tropical Continental Tropical Continental Polar Continental Polar Maritime-over the ocean, humid Continental-over land, low humidity Tropical-warmPolar-cold

How air masses move- Prevailing Westerlies- major wind belt over US, usually west to east. Prevailing Westerlies- major wind belt over US, usually west to east. Jet Streams- high speed air masses embedded in the westerlies. Jet Streams- high speed air masses embedded in the westerlies. Fronts- the boundary where two air masses meet. Fronts- the boundary where two air masses meet.

Types of Fronts Cold fronts- cool, dense air Cold fronts- cool, dense air

Warm fronts- warm, less dense air Warm fronts- warm, less dense air

Stationary fronts- when cold and warm air meet, neither one can move Stationary fronts- when cold and warm air meet, neither one can move

Occluded fronts- where a warm air mass is caught between two cold air masses Occluded fronts- where a warm air mass is caught between two cold air masses

Section 4 Storms! A violent disturbance in the atmosphere. A violent disturbance in the atmosphere. Thunderstorms with heavy precipitation, including thunder, the sound of an explosion, and lightning, an electrical charge. Thunderstorms with heavy precipitation, including thunder, the sound of an explosion, and lightning, an electrical charge. Tornadoes- a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud over land that reaches down from a storm cloud to the earth. Tornadoes- a rapidly whirling, funnel-shaped cloud over land that reaches down from a storm cloud to the earth. Snow storms- large amounts of precipitation in the form of snow. Snow storms- large amounts of precipitation in the form of snow. Hurricanes-tropical cyclone, which is a swirling center of low air pressure, winds of 119 kph at least, begins over water, the “eye” of a hurricane is the calm inside the middle. Hurricanes-tropical cyclone, which is a swirling center of low air pressure, winds of 119 kph at least, begins over water, the “eye” of a hurricane is the calm inside the middle. Floods- after a major downpour of rain, flash floods can occur. Floods- after a major downpour of rain, flash floods can occur.

Section 5 Predicting Weather Meteorologist- scientists who study the causes of weather and try to predict it. They use maps, charts and computers to forecast the weather. Reading a weather map: Symbols, color for temperature and lines are used to show the direction of winds, fronts, etc.