Chapter 12.2 Weather Systems pages 318-323

Essential Questions:

1. What are the similarities and differences between the 3 major wind systems?
2. What are the four types of fronts?
3. How do high and low pressure systems differ?

Vocabulary:

1. Coriolis Effect
2. Polar easterlies
3. Prevailing westerlies
4. trade winds
5. jet stream
6. front

Global Wind Systems page 318

There are 3 basic wind systems in each hemisphere

1. polar easterlies
2. prevailing westerlies
3. trade winds

Jet Streams page 321

Jet stream is a narrow band of fast moving wind with speeds of up to 400 km/hour at altitudes of 10.7 – 12.2 km.

Fronts page 322

Air masses with different characteristics cab collide and result in dramatic weather changes.  The narrow region between two air masses of different densities is called a front.

http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/

Complete the table

Pressure Systems page 323

Air always flows from high to low pressure.

High pressure air is sinking air while low pressure air is rising air.  If image is unclear, use this link

http://www.wfmz.com/image/view/-/183898/highRes/1/-/3jqcfb/-/pressure-2-jpg.jpg

The image shows the direction of turn in the northern hemisphere.  Would the direction of the turns be the same in the southern hemisphere?  Explain.

Check Yourself.  Can you answer all essential questions?

Computer Lab:

Site 1:  Air Masses:  The Basics

http://itg1.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/AckermanKnox/chap9/airmass_rev.html

Site 2:  Air Masses in the USA

http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/synoptic/airmass.htm

Site 3:  Air Masses:  More information

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wamsorce/wamsorce.htm

Site 4:  Air Masses:  Visualizations

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2001/es2001page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Site 5:  Cold Fronts

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/def.rxml

Site 6:  Warm Fronts

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/def.rxml

Site 7: Warm Front

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/af/frnts/wfrnt/def.rxml

Site 8: Stationary Front

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wsfront/wsfront.htm

Site 9:  Occluded Fronts

http://www.atmos.illinois.edu/earths_atmosphere/airmasses_fronts.html

Site 10:  Locating Air Masses

http://itg1.meteor.wisc.edu/wxwise/AckermanKnox/chap9/airmass_Front.html