Science 1206 - Weather Dynamics Student Workbook
Name: _________________________________
Unit Project
Weather Observations and Records: See the project handout at the end of this booklet for details on the
Weather Unit project. Start recording your data immediately.
Weather Dynamics is the study of how the motion of water and air causes weather patterns. The main
components of Earth that affects weather are the atmosphere, the land forms, and water in the forms (solid,
liquid, and vapor).
Weather is the set of environmental conditions encountered from one day to the next.
Example:__________________________________________________________________________________
Climate is the set of environmental conditions averaged over many years.
Example:__________________________________________________________________________________
Global Geography (p.503)
Indicate the following on the
diagram:
Longitude
Latitude
Polar Regions
Mid-latitude Regions
Longitude - the angle measured east or west from the 00 line, which passes through Greenwich, England.
Latitude - the angle measured south or north of the equator. Equatorial Region - region located between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Polar Regions - Region north of the Arctic Circle and the region south of the Antarctic Circle.
Mid-latitude Regions - Regions between the tropics and the polar regions.
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Define the following methods of heat transfer distribute energy around the Earth (p. 504-507).
Radiation - ________________________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________________________________
Conduction- _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Convection- _______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Advection- ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Note: The Sun is the Earth’s main source of electromagnetic radiation. Not all of the solar energy reaching the
Earth’s atmosphere actually reaches the land and water. (See fig.4, p. 506) Some solar radiation gets reflected
back into space. How much radiation that is reflected at any given time is dependent upon the surface
features: The albedo (percentage of light reflected) of a material will determine how much radiation is
reflected. Clean snow has a high albedo whereas black soil has a low albedo. Any material that absorbs energy
and becomes warmer is called a heat sink. The oceans are good heat sinks whereas soil and rock are poor heat
sinks. The heat capacity of a substance will indicate whether a substance is a good heat sink or not.
Reflection and Absorption of Energy
Solar Energy
100 %
2
Absorption by land
and oceans
Reflection from clouds
50 %
Absorption from
clouds
Reflected from surface
20 %
27 %
3%
Match the following heat concepts with the correct explanations. (See p. 507)
Specific Heat Capacity
Latent heat of fusion
Latent heat of vaporization
______________________________ The measure of how much heat a substance requires to increase its
temperature one degree. Or how much energy it releases as it’s
temperature decreases.
______________________________ The amount of heat needed to change a unit mass of a substance from a
solid to a liquid.
______________________________ The amount of heat needed to change a unit mass of a substance from a
liquid to a gas.
Note: ‘Latent’ means ‘hidden’. When a substance changes state, the substance either absorbs or releases
energy without changing temperature. A substance will have its own latent heats of Fusion and Vaporization
constants. Vaporization requires more energy than Fusion. Water has latent heat of fusion of 3.3 x 105 J/kg
and a latent heat of vaporization of 2.3 x 106 J/kg.
The Atmosphere (p. 510-513)
The Six layers of the Atmosphere:
1. __________________________________ - the layer closest to the Earth’s
surface. Altitude of 8 km at the poles and up to 16 km at the equator. Most of
our weather occurs in this layer. The upper part of this layer is colder than the
lower part.
2. __________________________________ - a dry layer located between 12
km and 50 km above the Earth’s surface. This layer contains high concentrations
of ozone. Ozone protects the Earth from harmful doses of ultraviolet given off
by the sun. The ozone also cause the stratosphere to be warmer.
3. __________________________________ - the middle layer extends from 50
km to 80 km. This layer has low concentrations of gases and low temperatures.
4. __________________________________ - extends from 80 km to 500 km. It is in this layer that X-rays are
absorbed. This absorption by the few air molecules in this layer gives the molecules energy producing higher
temperatures. The sun’s radiation cause the particles in this layer to become electrically charged to produce
the northern and southern lights.
5. __________________________________ - the thin outer part of our atmosphere. There are very few
particles(mainly hydrogen) in this layer.
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Define the following atmosphere terms (p. 510-513)
Altitude - __________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Temperature Gradient - ______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Pressure Gradient - _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Atmospheric Pressure - ______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Aneroid Barometer - ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Prevailing Winds
A wind is a movement of air
in the atmosphere. Prevailing
winds are winds that affect
large areas/weather around
the world. Winds are affected
by the Earth’s rotation. The
apparent change in direction
of a moving mass in a
rotating system is called the
Coriolis Effect.
Review p. 517 Figure 2
4
Describe each of the prevailing winds:
1. Polar Easterlies - _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Mid-latitude Westerlies - __________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The Trade Winds - ________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Jet Streams - ____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The Seasons
The Earth revolves in its orbit around the Sun. Though undetectable, the Earth moves nearly 30 km/s in its
(23.5o). ALL of these factors produce seasons that are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The Earth’s orbit is elliptical, so we are not always the same distance from the Sun. The Earth is actually
closest to the Sun during our winter solstice, and farthest from the Sun during our summer solstice. The
orientation (tilt) of the Earth causes the Sun’s rays to strike the surface at different angles. The angle of
incidence affects the amount of energy transferred.
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-Winter Solstice
- shortest day of the year
- N. Hem. is at its max tilt away from Sun
- Sun’s rays are at it’s steepest angle
Vernal Equinox
Autumnal Equinox
-Summer Solstice
- longest day of year
-N. Hem is at it’s max tilt towards the Sun
•
Complete # 1-3 on pg 509 and # 1 and 2 on pg 519
The Hydrosphere
The hydrosphere is made up of both fresh and salt water found on Earth. Approximately 70% of the Earth’s
surface is water. Only 2.5 % of all water is fresh. Of this 2.5 % , most of the fresh water on Earth is frozen in
glaciers and in the ice caps.
The Water Cycle - Review Figure 4 on page 523 of your text. Radiant energy from the sun causes water to
evaporate or ice to sublimate. Transpiration in plants adds to the formation of water vapor. The water vapor
rises , cools, and condenses into fog, mist, and clouds. This precipitation falls to the Earth and the process
repeats.
Evaporation - process of changing a liquid to a vapor.
Sublimation - process of changing a solid to a vapor.
Condensation - process of changing a vapor to a liquid.
Draw and label a diagram of the water cycle (p. 523):
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Major Ocean Currents
The oceans have an important effect on weather dynamics. The oceans occupy a large portion of the Earth’s
surface. Water’s high heat capacity will affect temperature changes in a given area. Since there is a large vast
of water at the equator, where the sun is most direct, ocean currents act as conveyer belts to transport energy
around the world. The major ocean currents are shown in figure 1 on page 525 of your text. Note that the
direction of the major ocean currents are similar to the directions of the major winds. List four causes of
Ocean Currents (p. 526):
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Clouds - Solar energy heats up water causing evaporation. This mixture of water vapor and heated air rises in
the atmosphere. As the moist air rises, air pressure and temperature lowers, causing condensation to occur. If
the temperature drops low enough ice crystals will form. Describe the different categories of Clouds (p.530533):
Convective Clouds - _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Frontal Clouds - ____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Orographic Clouds - _________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Cumulus Clouds - ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Stratus Clouds -_____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Note: Clouds can be further classified according to height and water content:
alto - medium height clouds, cirrus - high-level clouds, nimbus - rain-holding cloud.
Describe the different shapes, altitude and descriptions of these Clouds (Figure 7, p. 533)
Cirrus - ____________________________________________________________________________________
Cirrocumulus - _____________________________________________________________________________
Cirrostratus - _______________________________________________________________________________
Cumulonimbus - ____________________________________________________________________________
Altostratus - _______________________________________________________________________________
Altocumulus - ______________________________________________________________________________
Stratocumulus - ____________________________________________________________________________
Cumulus - _________________________________________________________________________________
Nimbostratus - _____________________________________________________________________________
Stratus - ___________________________________________________________________________________
Fog
Fog is actually a cloud at ground level. Air near the ground cools (especially on clear nights ) and water vapor
condenses into fog. Fog can be produced when:



On clear nights, energy from the Earth’s surface radiates upward but is not reflected back to Earth by
clouds. The air near the ground cools, allowing water vapor to condense into fog.
When warm air passes over a snow-covered ground or moist sea air drifts over a cold current (or
seashore), fog forms.
When warm air rises up the sides of a mountains during orographic lifting.
Forecasting the Weather - Find each definition that corresponds to the appropriate description (p. 543-546)
1. The study of the atmosphere and weather forecasting. _______________________________________
2. A person who work in the field of meteorology.
_______________________________________
3. A set of temperature, wind, pressure, and moisture conditions
for a certain region that moves as a unit for a period of time._______________________________________
4. A large body of air in which the temperature and moisture content at a particular altitude are fairly
uniform.
_______________________________________
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Note the following types of Air Masses:
1. Maritime Polar air mass - cool moist air mass. Usually brings wet, stormy weather
2. Maritime Tropical air mass - warm moist air mass. Brings precipitation.
3. Continental Polar air mass - cold dry air mass.
4. Continental Tropical air mass - warm, dry air mass.
Define the following Pressure Systems (p.547-548):
Front_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Cyclone ___________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Anticyclone________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Four Types of Fronts
Match each Front with the correct description (p. 547-548)
1. the leading edge of a warm air mass
2. the front that forms when a cold front catches up
to and overtakes a warm front. The warm air is lifted
away from the Earth’s surface and cut off from the
warm air mass below. This cause a weakening of the
storm system.
3. the leading edge of a cold air mass
4. an unmoving front between a warm air mass and a
cold air mass. Usually means stable weather until the
air mass begins to move
Cold Front
Stationary Front
Warm Front
Occluded Front
Weather Forecasting Technology
Weather forecasting depends upon the collection of weather related data. Weather forecasting has become
more accurate for many reasons. The technologies for collecting data has improved. The theories explaining
the relationships between temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloud formations, etc. have
advanced with better computers, research, and more observatories.
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Explain each of the following weather forecasting technologies (p. 567-570):
1. Weather Satellites - _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. High orbit satellites - ______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Low orbit satellites -______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Special Aircraft -_______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Weather Balloons - _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Computer Technology -____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete the following table on Ground Based Weather Forecasting Technology
Instrument
Weather Factor Measured
Thermometer
Anemometer
Aneroid barometer
Rain Gauge
Hydrometer or psychrometer
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Regional Weather
Regional air movement occurs in a small area and is caused by temperature differences between:
-Day and night
- The air over land and water
- Usually created by warm air rising over cold and creating convection currents
Define the following regional weather terms (p. 553-555):
Convection Currents -________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Thermals -_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Sea Breezes -_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Land Breezes -______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Lake-Effect Snow -___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Chinook Winds -____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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