Chapter 10 Lesson 2, "Weather Patterns and Predictions"

Materials:

• Worksheet, "Weather Patterns and Predictions"

Objective:

• Students will describe ways that weather data are collected.
• Students will explain how fronts, highs, and lows affect weather.
• Students will read the information on a weather map.

Anticipatory Set:* Blow up a balloon until it almost pops. Attach the end to a hollow tube but twist the end so the air does not leak out. Take a second balloon of the same type and put a little air in it. twist the end and connect it to the other side of the tube. Have the students predict what will happen when you untwist the balloons. This is the way the atmosphere works. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.

Teacher Input:* Introduce the students to the idea that the atmosphere is broken into different Air masses because of different heating and different features on the surface of the earth. Areas where the jet stream rarely touches build up these big air masses because the air has a lot of time to be influenced by the surface that it is sitting above. Source 1, Source 2. The air mass then is pushed or pulled by the jet stream or Hadley cells, into other areas. These Air masses can also move based on the pressure that has been created or not created as the air sits in one spot. High Pressure will move into low pressure at the surface. The high pressure is usually cooler air and the low is usually warmer moist air.

What is the name for the boundary line between two air masses that moves from one area to the next. Discuss a front. Front 1, Front 2, Front 3, Front 4.

It is a warm front if the boundary ahead of a warm air mass that is pushing out and riding over a cold air mass.

It is a cold front boundary ahead of a cold air mass that is pushing out and wedging under a warm air mass.

Here is how the different air masses interact when they are next to each other:

• A warm air mass glides up over a cool air mass.
• In a cold front, a cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass. In some cases, two air masses stay in the same area for days and the boundary is called a stationary boundary. Stationary 2.
• Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts and can sometimes catch up and overtake a warm front.
• If a warm air mass is wedged between two cold air masses it can rise above them this causes an occluded front (side view) and is not normal because normally as you go up in the atmosphere the temperature cools.

We talked about how air pressure can really affect weather. It is measured by a barometer but how is it shown on a weather map Isobar map from top. Show isobars.

Guided Practice:* Students will complete the questions on Page 241 with the instructor

Independent Practice:* Students will complete the worksheet, "Weather Patterns and Predictions"

Check for Understanding:* Students will take the quiz on Lesson 2, Weather Patterns and Predictions.

Duration:

30 minutes + 10-15 for Independent Practice (Could be longer if taken for homework).

Alaska Content Standards Addressed in this lesson:

• SCI A-1 Students will understand models describing the nature of molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles and the relation of the models to the structure and behavior of matter (Structure of Matter);
• SCI A-2 Students will understand the physical, chemical, and nuclear changes and interactions that result in observable changes in the properties of matter (Changes and Interactions of Matter);
• SCI A-4 Students will understand observable natural events such as tides, weather, seasons, and moon phases in terms of the structure and motion of the earth (Earth);

• SCI A-15 Students will use science to understand and describe the local environment (Local Knowledge); and: