Isotherms, Air Masses, and Fronts

Task 7  – Isotherms (updated 4/4/15)

1. Record today’s Weather, yesterday’s Hi/Lo/Precipitation, & Astronomy Data (link) (excel).
2. On your mini-map (pdf) record the following:
   1. WSM
   2. Precipitation (Rain – green, Snow – blue)

Climate Comparison & Map Skills

1. Using your Weather Guide Book pages 147-153, find the following information:
2. Create a chart using google doc to compare your city to NJ. Print out when done
   1. Humid, Sub-humid, Semiarid, or Arid?
   2. Average annual temperature
   3. Average low temperature
   4. Average temperature in July
   5. Average annual precipitation in inches
   6. Percent of years with precipitation less than 20 inches
   7. Average number of sunshine per day December-February
   8. Average number of clear days
   9. Average relative humidity in July
   10. Number of days with snow on the ground

 

Drawing Isotherms

• Today you will learn how to read and create Isotherms using an interactive map on this website: (link) (updated 2.22.16)
  • Record your answers on your worksheet (pdf)

 

Task 8  – Air masses (updated 4.1.15)

1. Record today’s Weather & Astronomy Data (link) (excel).
2. On your mini-map (pdf) record the WSM and add it to the classroom map of the USA (pdf)

What is an air mass?

1. Use the websites below and pages 68-76 in your Weather Guide to learn about air masses:
   • Study Jams Video – Air Masses and Fronts (link)
     • take the quiz to review the material
   • Interactive Demo – Air Masses (link)
   • BrainPOP – Weather Video (link)
   • NOAA Air Masses (link)
   • USA Today (link)
2. Air Masses (pdf) {or old 2002 worksheet (pdf)} – hand in when done, will be graded for accuracy

 

Task 9 – Fronts & Interactive Weather Maker (updated 4.9.15)

Fronts – Where air masses meet

1. Record today’s Weather, yesterday’s Hi/Lo/Precipitation, & Astronomy Data (link) (excel).
2. On your mini-map (pdf)
   • record the WSM and add it to the classroom map of the USA (pdf)
   • color in the precipitation
   • draw the fronts (using blue and red dotted lines), along with H and L, for today (link)
     • go to the WunderMap, click “U.S. Fronts” and “Weather Stations” (link)
     • What do you notice about the temperatures on either side of the fronts?
       • show me your work when done

• Resources
  1. Fronts – symbols (link) (Updated 11/30/16)
  2. Pages 77-95 in your Weather Guide for more information
  3. Handout for types of weather fronts (pdf)
  4. Interactive site on weather fronts (link)
  5. Interactive site on air masses (link)

 

What happens when air masses meet? How do air masses create weather?

• Study Jams Video – Air Masses and Fronts (link)
• Using this interactive website (link), find out how air masses interact to create different types of weather
• Record your results on the handout and answer questions completely (pdf)
  • this will be graded for accuracy and completeness

 

All tasks:

• Home Page
• Weather Prompts (link)
• Tasks 1, 2, 3: Finding your city, recording weather and astronomy data
• Tasks 4, 5, 6: Time zones, state facts, and weather symbols
• Tasks 7, 8, 9: Isotherms, air masses, and fronts
• Tasks 10, 11, 12: Wind & air pressure, layers of the atmosphere, and clouds
• Tasks 13, 14, 15: Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes