Cooler Air/Liquid Is More Dense, So It Sinks

Weather Test Review

Convection Currents:

1. Explain convection current. How does density of air and water effect convection currents?

When air and water are heated and begin a circling pattern because of differences in densities

Cooler air/liquid is more dense, so it sinks

Warmer air/liquid is less dense, so it rises

1. How does the Sun’s thermal energy effect convection currents in our atmosphere and oceans?

Convection currents create wind and ocean currents

Wind and Ocean Currents:

1. Fill in the two diagrams below about Wind and Ocean Currents.

1. How does the sun play a role in creating ocean and wind currents?

Sun heats up air and water at equator which causes it to move towards the north and south poles, where it cools and sinks back to the equator

Oceans and Weather:

1. How does a warm current affect the weather near a coastal town like Galveston?

Creates warm, humid, wet weather with lots of rain, fog, and humidity

1. How does a cold current affect the weather near a coastal town in like New York City?

Creates colder weather with rain, but very little humidity

1. Complete the diagram below about Hurricanes:

Hurricanes:

Land vs. Sea Breeze?

1. Draw a picture of land and sea breeze in the following boxes. Be sure to include a sun if it during the day and a moon if it is during the night.

1. What causes the winds to change during the day and night during a land and sea breeze?

During the day the land absorbs more heat creating a low pressure system over land and high pressure over ocean, and during the night it looses its heat, creating a high pressure system over land and low pressure over ocean. Winds blow high to low so the direction of wind changes.

1. Low Pressure vs. High Pressure

Fronts:

1. Fill out the diagram below about fronts:

Weather Map

1. Draw each symbol below that you would find on a weather map:

1. Answer the following questions using the weather map below (see back for state names):

1. Where on the map would you expect cloudy weather based on the type of air pressure?

West Texas or Utah (low pressure area)

1. Where on the map would you expect clear skies based on the type of air pressure?

Canada or Atlantic Ocean

1. What type of weather will Tennessee expect to have in the next couple of days?

Cold front is coming in, so temperatures will lower (get colder), there will be quick thunderstorms followed by clear skies and fair weather

1. What type of weather will Wyoming expect to have in the next couple of days?

Warm front it coming in, temperature will lower and bring days of scattered showers and other types of wet weather