Introduction
How do meteorologists forecast the weather? In this web quest we will explore air masses, fronts, weather stations and weather forecasts.
Task
Click on the link to find the answer for each question on your worksheet. Record your responses in your notebook.
Process
1. What is an air mass? http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/home.rxml
2. Describe the temperature, moisture and air pressure associated with a Continental Polar air mass.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/artc.rxml
3. Describe the temperature, moisture and air pressure associated with a Maritime Tropical air mass.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/trp.rxml
4. Describe a high pressure center. What is another name for a center of high pressure?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/anticyclone.rxml?hret=/guides/mtr/af/arms/artc.rxml
5. What is a cyclone? What direction do winds flow in cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere? In the Southern Hemisphere? http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/cyclone.rxml?hret=/guides/mtr/af/arms/artc.rxml
6. Watch this animation on how winds flow around cyclones (pressure lows) and anticyclones (pressure highs) in the Northern Hemisphere. Draw and describe what you observe below.
7. What is the definition of a front?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/home.rxml
8. What is a cold front? Describe the characteristics before, during and after a cold front below.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/def.rxml
9. Watch the animation of a cold front and describe the type of precipitation associated with cold front movement.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/prcp.rxml
10. What is a warm front? Describe the characteristics before, during and after a cold front below.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/def.rxml
11. Watch the animation of a warm front and describe the type of precipitation associated with a warm front.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/prcp.rxml
12. What factors lead to an increased probability (chance) of precipitation?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/prcp/frnt.rxml
13. What is the importance of temperature in the formation of rain, freezing rain, sleet or snow?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/prcp/zr/fcst/fcst.rxml
Evaluation
Describe the “trends” method of forecasting. What factors does a meteorologist using the trends method consider?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/mth/trnd.rxml
Create a poster with your group summarize your finding on how meterologists forecast the weather.
Be ready to present to the class.
Conclusion
What are two things that you learned new today about forecasting weather and what is one thing you would like to continue to explore?