Week 11: Weather

 Week 11: Weather 

1. What did you do in the lab today? 

In the lab this week, we first discussed the water cycle. We made posters as a group explaining how the water cycle works, and then discussed them as a class. Next, we discussed all of the terms that we know about weather and what is on the weather reports. We talked about how three variables cause weather being air, water, and heat. Finally, we worked with groups to figure out how accurate our weather apps are throughout the week. We created a spread sheet with five different weather sources that we will look at all week. 

2. What was the big question?

How do air pressure systems and fronts work together to create a change in weather? 

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion? 

N/A - Quiz 

4. Read the online textbook chapter 11: 

  • What did you learn?
    • Warm front - the boundary where a warmer air mass is moving in to replace a cooler air mass.
      • The air behind a warm front is warmer than the area it is moving into. 
    • Cold front - the boundary where a cooler air mass is moving in to replace a warmer air mass.
      • The air behind a cold front is cooler than the area it is moving into. 
    • Pressure systems
      • The air pressure on Earth changes throughout the day, affecting the weather of an area. 
      • The air moves from high-pressure to low-pressure areas. 
      • Low-pressure systems - air rises
        • Rising air carries water vapor into the atmosphere, where it forms clouds and eventually precipitates. 
        • Associated with weather conditions such as, clouds, rain, and wind. 
      • High-pressure systems - air descends
        • Fewer clouds form
        • Typically sunny and clear 
      • Weather map 
        • The red line indicates the warm front, and the circles point in the direction that it is moving. 
        • The blue line indicates the cold front, and the triangles point in the direction that it is moving. 
        • A line that alternates means that it's a stationary front where warm and cold fronts meet, but neither replaces the other. 
    • Wind
      • Wind is caused when Earth's surface is unevenly heated by the sun. 
      • Since the Earth is tilted on its axis, the sun hits certain areas of the surface more directly than others, causing temperature differences. 
      • When warm air rises, it leaves low pressure behind. To maintain balance, air that is cooler moves in to fill the space, and wind occurs. 
  • What was most helpful? 
    • Learning how air pressure systems work together to create weather patterns. 
    • The explanation of high and low-pressure systems was really clear. 
  • What do you need more information on?
    • I am interested in learning about how meteorologists predict changes in the air pressure. 
 5. What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have? 
I don't have any comments or concerns. 

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