Name:_________________________
Earth Science Notes
Topic 1: Weather
Density/Rate of Change
Observations/Inferences
Interpreting Graphs
Weather Variables
Air Pressure
Relative Humidity/Dew Point
Winds
Phase Changes of Water
Air Masses and Fronts
Mr. Argus
Regents/Honors Earth Science
Paul V. Moore High School
Central Square
Density: The amount of matter (mass) in a certain amount of
space (volume).
Calculating Density, Mass, and Volume:
M
D V
Rate of Change: Measures the speed or rate at which an event
happens.
Formula: Rate of Change =
Change in field value
time
Observations and Inferences
Observation: Something you learn or know by using any of your
senses.
Inference: A guess or prediction that is based on your
observations.
Interpreting Graphs
Direct Relationship:
 As X variable increases, it causes Y
to also increase.
Inverse Relationship:
 As X variable increases, it causes Y
to decrease.
Cyclic Change:

As X variable increases, it causes Y
to increase and decrease in a cycle.
Topic 1 Vocabulary
Air Mass:
Anemometer:
Atmosphere:
Barometer:
Cold Front:
Warm Front:
Greenhouse Effect:
High Pressure:
Low Pressure:
Insolation:
Latent Heat:
Ozone Layer:
Psychrometer:
Saturation:
Specific Heat:
Weather Variables
Variable
Instrument used to measure
Air Temperature
Thermometer
Air Pressure
Barometer
Relative Humidity
Sling Psychrometer
Dew Point Temperature
Sling Psychrometer
Wind Speed
Anemometer
Wind Direction
Anemometer
thermometer
sling psychrometer
barometer
anemometer
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is:______________________________________________
The atmosphere has layers (“spheres”):
The “ozone layer” is part of the ________________________________
It’s important because ________________________________________
Composition of the atmosphere (see “troposphere”):
Phase Changes of Water
solid
liquid
gas
From the Reference Tables, p. 1:
Latent Heat:
During melting, sublimation, and evaporation:________________________
Evaporation is a cooling process because:____________________________
During freezing, deposition, and condensation:_______________________
Condensation is a warming process because:_________________________
Station Models
Used on weather maps to show weather data for one place
Decode the station model to the left!
temperature
dew point
precipitation
present weather
wind speed
wind velocity
air pressure
visibility
Heat Transfer
Conduction: When heat energy is transferred between objects
that are touching.
Example: Burning your hand on a hot stove.
Convection: Happens in liquids and gasses. Material circulates
because of changes in temperature and density.
Example: Lava lamp.
Radiation: Energy moves through space.
Example: Sunlight.
Relative Humidity and Dew Point Temp.
Relative Humidity:______________________________________
Two ways to change Relative Humidity:
1) _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Air Temp = 200 C
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
2) _________________________________________________
Temp = 200 C
Temp = 15 C
Temp = 12.50 C
Temp = 100 C
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
Dew Point Temperature:_________________________________
If air temp. and dew point temp. are the same:
RH = _____________ and it _______________
*Dew Point Temperature depends on _______________________
Temp = 200 C
Temp = 15 C
Temp = 12.50 C
Temp = 100 C
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
RH=_______
Dew Point =_______________
Air Temp = 200 C
RH=_______
RH=_______
Dew Point =_______________
RH=_______
RH=_______
Finding Relative Humidity and Dew Point Temperatures:
 Use Reference Tables p. 12- (use the correct chart!)
 Match up the dry bulb temp. and the difference between
dry and wet bulb temps.
Dewpoint Temp.:
Practice finding the dew point by using these values:
dry bulb (0C)
wet bulb (0C)
14
12
22
18
6
3
Difference between
wet and dry bulbs
dewpoint
temperature (0C)
Relative Humidity:
Practice finding the relative humidity by using these values:
dry bulb (0C)
wet bulb (0C)
16
12
4
23
3
18
Difference between
wet and dry bulbs
relative humidity
(%)
Precipitation
 Water coming from the air in some form (rain, snow, etc).
How precipitation forms:
Water vapor condenses and collects on
“condensation nuclei” (dust, pollen, etc),
makes cloud droplet.
Cloud droplets collide and combine to
make larger droplets. They can freeze now
to make an ice crystal.
When large enough, they fall to the ground.
Precipitation forms:
 On hot, humid days (thunderstorms).
 At fronts.
 When air is forced over a mountain range (“Orographic Effect”).
*In each of these situation, warm air rises and cools to its dew
point temperature.
Water vapor condenses, and makes
precipitation.
Air Pressure
*See Reference Tables p. 13 for pressure conversion scale!
Air pressure is:__________________________________________
High Pressure (“H”):
Air ____________ because it is ___________ dense, because:
 _____________
 _____________
Winds:
H
Weather associated with high pressure:
Low Pressure (“L”):
Air _________ ___ because it is ____________ dense, because:
 _____________
 _____________
Winds:
L
Weather associated with low pressure:
Wind
Wind forms when:____________________________________
H
L
Wind moves in a curved path because:______________________
Isobars:_______________________________________________
Wind Speed/Pressure Gradient
Heating of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere is heated ________________________________
Insolation:_____________________________________________
Specific Heat:___________________________________________
*See p. 1 in Reference Tables for Specific Heats of Common Materials Table!
“Greenhouse Effect”:____________________________________
Land:
Water:
Land and Sea Breezes
In the daytime:
At night:
Air Masses and Source Regions
An air mass is:__________________________________________________
Air Mass Source Regions:_________________________________________
Fronts
Cold Fronts:
Map Symbol:
Weather:
Warm Fronts:
Map Symbol:
Weather:______________________________________________________
Stationary Fronts:
Map Symbol:
Weather:______________________________________________________
Occluded Fronts:
Map Symbol:
Weather:______________________________________________________
Fronts, Continued…
H
C
L
A
B
The fronts and air pressure are causing the weather at these locations.
Describe the weather at:
 Location A:
 Location B:
 Location C: