Major Concepts in This Unit:
At the end of this unit you will know or be able to do the
following . . .
Describing Weather:
Define weather.
Describe the following relationships:
- temperature and barometric pressure;
- temperature and moisture capacity; and
- moisture content and barometric pressure (***major misconception
alert***).
Formation of Clouds and Precipitation:
List the ingredients needed to make a cloud.
Describe the changes that take place as moist air cools to its dew point
temperature.
Defend the following statement ". . . the air smells so clean after
it rains!".
Synoptic Weather Maps:
Construct isolines on a map to describe the temperature and pressure
in a large area.
Interpret isobar maps to locate areas of high winds.
Infer the location of frontal interfaces using synoptic weather maps.
Predicting the weather:
Explain how the wind direction can be used as a rough predictor of
the weather.
Show how changes in air pressure are
used to make weather predictions.
Describe the movement
of winds around a Northern Hemisphere Low-pressure system (cyclone).
Draw a cross sectional view of each major frontal interface (cold, warm,
occluded, stationary).
Compare and contrast areas of high and low pressure.
Severe Weather:
Locate areas of hurricane development.
Illustrate the life cycle of a hurricane from the formation of a tropical
storm to landfall.
Describe the unique conditions existing in "tornado alley" that
create such powerful thunderstorms and tornado activity.
Explain the role of "temperature inversions" in the formation
of ice storms.
Meteorology Vocabulary List:
- Need the definition to some tricky science word? Try a OneLook® Online Dictionary
search. Hint: scroll down for the science words category.
Weather
Insolation
Radiation
Convection
Isotherm
Isobar
Evaporation
Condensation
Humidity
Dewpoint
Cyclone
Anticyclone
Air Mass
Front
Hurricane
Station model
Practice test:
Tropical Storm/Hurricane Update:
Meteorology Links:
Ask Jack - a
meteorologist at USA Today
Project Atmosphere Online, a
nice page with weather data and projects from "Down-Under"! This is their
ask an expert page. CAUTION! Cyclonic motion in the
southern hemisphere is in the opposite direction - don't memorize any diagrams from this
site!
Meteorology
Tutorial from the University of Illinois
The Weather Channel
USA TODAY Weather
Tutorial
Channel 10 Weather Forecast
Channel 13 Weather
Forecast
Brockport State Meteorology
Department
EarthWatch 3D Weather
Weather Underground
Hurricane Headhunters
Atlantic Hurricane Data
from Johns Hopkins University
Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
NOAA Geostationary Satellite Data
Server
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