Copy of Copy of Unit 2 Portfolio - Weather Maps
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School
Penn Foster College *
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Course
0846
Subject
Geography
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by MateWombatMaster1033
Name:
Nahviah Owens Date:
1/24/24
Student Exploration: Weather Maps
Steps: 1.
Click “File”, then “Make a copy” in order to type on this document. 2.
Log into Connexus (Pearson Online Classroom) to be able to access the simulation.
3.
Click HERE to access the simulator - https://www.connexus.com/external/gizmos/default.aspx?
idMedia=759935
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary:
air mass, air pressure, cold front, high-pressure system, knot, low-pressure system, precipitation, warm front
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1.
How would you describe your weather today? Warm and Windy
2.
What information is important to include when you are describing the weather? The sun is out and it is not cloudy.
Gizmo Warm-up
Data on weather conditions is gathered from weather stations all over the world. This information is combined with satellite and radar images to create weather maps that show current conditions. With the Weather Maps Gizmo, you will use this information to interpret a variety of common weather patterns.
A weather station symbol, shown at right, summarizes the weather conditions
at a location.
1.
The amount of cloud cover is shown by filling in the circle. A black circle
indicates completely overcast conditions, while a white circle indicates a clear
sky. What percentage of cloud cover is indicated on the symbol above? 25%
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2.
Look at the “tail” that is sticking out from the circle. The tail points to where the wind is coming from. If the tail points north, a north wind is moving from north to south.
What direction is the wind coming from on the symbol above?
south west 3.
The “feathers” that stick out from the tail indicate the wind speed in knots
. (1 knot = 1.151 miles per hour.) A short feather represents 5 knots (5.75 mph), a long feather represents 10 knots (11.51 mph), and a triangular feather stands for 50 knots (57.54 mph). Add the feathers to find the wind speed.
What is the wind speed shown on the symbol above?
25 knots
Activity A: High-pressure systems
Get the Gizmo ready
: ●
Click New
until you see a high-pressure system
, represented by the symbol H
.
●
Turn on Show Mobile Station B data
.
●
Turn on Show land
.
Question: What weather patterns are associated with high-pressure systems?
1.
Observe
: Air pressure
is equal to the weight of a column of air on a particular location. Air pressure is measured in millibars (mb). Note how the air pressure changes as you move Station B
towards the center of the high-pressure system. A.
What do you notice?
That the pressure is going up .
B. Why do you think this is called a high-pressure system? its pressure is higher than its
surroundings .
2.
Observe
: Select Show satellite image
to observe any clouds near the system. What do you notice about the cloud cover near the high-pressure system?
its clear High-pressure systems are regions where air moves downward. Usually, few or no clouds form in these conditions.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Activity B: Low-pressure systems
Get the Gizmo ready
: ●
Click New
until you see a low-pressure system
, represented by the symbol L
.
●
Check that Show Mobile Station B data
and Show land
are on.
Question: What weather patterns are associated with low-pressure systems?
1.
Observe
: Note how the air pressure changes as you move Station B
towards the center of the low-
pressure system. A.
What do you notice? wind speed increases B.
Why do you think this is called a low-pressure system?
it has less pressure
2.
Observe
: Select Show satellite image
. What do you notice about the cloud cover near the low-pressure system?
it stay clear until its station has arrived Low-pressure systems are regions where air moves upward. This can lead to condensation and cloud formation.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
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Activity C: Fronts
Get the Gizmo ready
: ●
Click New
until you see a cold front, represented by a row of triangles.
●
Check that Show Mobile Station B data
and Show land
are on.
Question: What weather patterns are associated with cold fronts and warm fronts?
1.
Observe
: An air mass
is a large body of air with similar temperature, pressure, and humidity throughout. A cold front
is a boundary between a warm air mass and an advancing cold air mass. On a weather map, the triangles point in the direction that the cold front is moving.
2.
Compare
: Click New
so that you can observe several different cold fronts. Based on your observations, what do cold fronts seem to have in common?
colder temperatures and the rain
3.
Analyze
: Cold air is denser than warm air. When cold air hits warm air it pushes the warm air up. The rising
warm air cools quickly, resulting in condensation, clouds, and stormy weather.
Why do clouds form behind
the moving cold front?
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
it makes the warm air move faster.
4.
Observe
: Click New
until you see a warm front, represented by a row of semicircles. A warm front
is a boundary between a cold air mass and an advancing warm air mass. The semicircles point in the direction that the warm front is moving.
5.
Compare
: Click New
so that you can observe several different warm fronts. Based on your observations, what do warm fronts seem to
have in common? they all move slower and they
mostly move west to east.
6.
Analyze
: Warm air is less dense than cold air. When warm air hits cold air it rises up over the cold air. The rising warm air cools, resulting in condensation, clouds, and gentle rain.
Why do clouds form in front of
a warm front?
the warm fronts forms by pushing out the cold fronts 7.
Summarize
: Describe what the weather would be like as a warm front passes. Then, describe what would occur as a cold front passes. Use extra pages if necessary.
the temperatures may increase maybe a storm.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved