Wind and Weather Homework
1. Define the following terms:
a. Meteorologist –
b. Weather –
c. Hurricanes/Typhoons –
d. Humidity e. Temperature Inversion f. Microclimates g. Upwelling –
2. How are weather and climate the same? How are they different?
3. A weather report indicates that a cold front is coming into Southern California. How does a cold front work?
What do you think the weather will be like as a result of this cold front?
4. Stormy weather often results from a warm front. Why is this, given what you know about how temperature
inversion works?
5. How do hurricanes and typhoons work? Why do you tend not to see these types of tropical cyclones on the
Western US?
6. Why is the Midwestern United States such a hotspot for tornadoes?
7. Describe the tendency for hot and cold air (in terms of rising and falling).
8. Describe how low pressure and high pressure air influence the weather in a particular place.
9. Californians experience “May Grey” and “June Gloom.” How do these phenomena occur?
10. Draw the four stages of a Wind Cell. Also, label the HIGH and LOW PRESSURE areas, a WATER SOURCE, and a
description for each arrow what is happening.
11. There are three types of wind cells, located at different levels of latitude. What are they, where are they
located, and what direction does the wind in this cell flow?
12. Draw a globe, label: TRADE WINDS, WESTERLIES, HADLEY CELL, FERREL CELL, POLAR CELL
13. Describe the climate in between each one of the wind cells.
14. How is upwelling an important part of an aquatic ecosystem? How does El Nino upset this aspect?
15. What is the Rain Shadow Effect? Describe the climate on one side compared to the other side. Give one
example of a place that exhibits this phenomenon.