Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Weather & Climate 3
6th Grade Science: Unit 3 - Air Masses & Weather Fronts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is an air mass? | An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature, humidity and air pressure throughout it. |
| How are air masses named? | Air masses are named for where they form over the land or water and if the air mass is moist/humid or dry. |
| How is temperature and air pressure related? | Colder air is more dense and heavier, therefore has more air pressure. Warmer air is less dense, and lighter therefore has less air pressure. |
| Describe the difference between tropical air masses and polar air masses. | Tropical air masses are associated with warm temperatures, lower air pressure. Polar air masses are associated with cold temperatures, higher air pressure. |
| What are the four main types of air masses? | Polar (P) - forms at higher latitudes / near poles - cold air Tropical (T) - forms at lower latitudes / near tropics - warm air Continental (c) - forms over land - dry air Maritime (m) - forms over water - humid air |
| Why does colder air have more air pressure? Why does warmer air have less air pressure? | Colder air is more dense and sinks, therefore having higher air pressure. Warmer air is less dense, and rises, therefore having lower air pressure. |
| Do tropical air masses have low or high pressure? Do polar air masses have low or high pressure? | Tropical air masses have warmer temperatures, lower air pressure Polar air masses have cooler temperatures, higher air pressure. |
| Describe a Continental Polar (cP) air mass | Dry, cool - formed over land near the poles |
| Describe a Continental Tropical (cT) air mass | Dry, warm - formed over land near the tropics |
| Describe a Maritime Polar (mP) air mass | Moist, cool - formed over water near the poles |
| Describe a Maritime Tropical (mT) air mass | Moist, warm - formed over water near the tropics |
| What is a weather front? | A weather front is a boundary between two air masses with different characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, density, and wind |
| What is a stationary front? What type of weather does it bring? | a weather front that occurs when two air masses stop moving towards each other, creating a transition zone between them typically brings long periods of cloudy skies and precipitation, like rain or snow |
| What is a cold front? What type of weather does it bring? | A cold front is the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures, where cold air replaces warm air Can cause precipitation to fall for shorter yet intense periods of time (bring heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms). |
| What is a warm front? What type of weather does it bring? | A warm front is the boundary between a warm air mass and a cold air mass, where the warm air is gradually replacing the cold air Can cause precipitation to fall for longer periods of time but less intensely (can bring drizzle and gray skies) |
| What is an occluded front? What type of weather does it bring? | An occluded front is a weather phenomenon that occurs when a fast-moving cold front catches up with and overtakes a slow-moving warm front, lifting the warm air mass and hiding it from the surface Can cause severe weather, strong winds & heavy precipitation |
| Cold air ____ while warm air ___. | Cold air sinks while warm air rises. |
| Where do clouds form in connection with a cold front? | Clouds form in front of the cold front. |
| What types of changes do fronts bring? | Precipitation, Clouds, Temperature, Winds, Visibility, Severe weather |
| How doe cold fronts effect the temperature and winds? | Cold fronts can cause a rapid decrease in air temperature and can bring strong winds, especially near the ground. |
| What type of fronts can bring poor visibility? | Warm fronts |
| How is a cold front formed? | Cold air is denser and heavier than warm air, so it pushes against the warm air and slides underneath like a wedge. The warm air is forced upwards. It cools as it rises, expands, and loses the ability to hold moisture. This creates clouds and eventually precipitation in the form of thunderstorms. |
| How is a warm front formed? | A warm front happens when warm air move in on cold air. It pushes the cold air down against the earth and away. This causes it to cool, expand and loose its ability to hold moisture, creating clouds and mild/spread out rainfall. |
| How is an occluded front formed? | An occluded front happens when a cold front overtakes a warm front. One body of cold air approaches another, and the warm air is trapped in the middle and forced upwards. It expands and loses it moisture to create clouds and precipitation |
| How is a stationary front formed? | Two air masses with equal force meet and sit stationary in place. Stationary fronts can state in deadlock for an long period, the warm air condensing into clouds and causing precipitation. |
| How is weather different from climate? | Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. |
| What type of severe weather causes a storm surge? | a storm surge is caused by the strong winds in a hurricane or tropical storm |
| What would you expect to see if you were in the eye of a hurricane? | In the eye, the winds grow calm and the sky may clear |
| What needs to happen for a hurricane to form? | Hurricane gets its energy from the warm, humid air. This air rises and forms clouds. Inside the storm are bands of very high winds and heavy rains. The lowest air pressure and warmest temperatures are at the center of a storm. The lower the air pressure at the center of a storm, the faster the winds blow toward the center. |
Created by:
Engle Family
Popular Earth Science sets