Earth Science – Weather Study Guide
1. Temperature Conversions – be able to convert between degrees Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C)
 42ºF 
 20ºC 
2. Air Movement – Air always moves from areas of
(cyclone).
(anticyclone) to areas of
3. Draw how air moves around and between high pressure and low pressure
4. Draw diagrams of Land and Sea Breezes
Land
Sea
5. Draw diagrams of Mountain and Valley Breezes
Mountain
Valley
6. Air Masses of North America –
Name the 5 types of air masses and the properties in terms of moisture and temperature.
a. mT b. mP c. cP d. cT e. cA Label the Diagram Below to show the air masses and their source region.
7. Frontal Systems and Their Weather
– the boundary between an advancing cold air mass and a retreating warmer air mass
a.

Generally move from

Represented by a solid
line with
pointing towards the
warmer air and in the direction of
movement
After the front passes, air becomes
noticeably
and
Periods of brief, heavy precipitation
Cirrus then Cumulus and



to
clouds appear
Front – the boundary between an advancing warm air mass and a retreating colder air mass
b.




Generally move from southwest to northeast
Represented by a solid
line with
pointing towards the colder air
and in the direction of movement
After the front passes, air becomes noticeably
and more
than it was before
Nimbostratus, Altostratus, Cirrostratus and Cirrus
clouds associated with it. The
clouds appear first, and then the clouds lower and
thicken until
clouds are present with rain.
c. Stationary Front –



d.
Represented by alternating blue and red
lines with blue triangles pointing towards
the warmer air and red semicircles
pointing towards the colder air
A noticeable temperature change and/or shift
in wind direction is commonly observed when
crossing from one side of a stationary front to
another
Nimbostratus clouds associated with it
– the boundary that separates the new cold air mass (to the west) from the older
cool air mass already in place north of the warm front




Develops after a cyclone has developed
Represented by a solid purple line with alternating
triangles and semicircles pointing in the direction
the front is moving
Changes in temperature, dew point temperature, and
wind direction can occur
Cumulonimbus and nimbostratus clouds associated
with it
8. Changes in wind direction and temperature can also be used to locate fronts.
Front
Cold
Warm
Wind Before
Wind After
Temperature
Before
Temperature
After
9. Winds on a Non-Rotating Earth, Coriolis Effect, and Global Wind Patterns
Draw a diagram to show each:
10. Synoptic Weather Maps (Station Models)
a. Converting air pressure from long to short form
i. 200 
ii. 120 
b. Converting air pressure from short to long form
i. 1008 
ii. 996 
c. Reading a station model: write a weather report for the current station model
42
980
-12
40
11. Drawing Isobars and Weather Fronts: Draw the isobars on the map below, label the pressure center, and
draw the warm and cold front. Fronts can be drawn based on the shifts in temperature and wind
direction. Use appropriate colors.
12. Weather Presentations – review the notes you took from the weather poster presentations. There will be
some questions on the safety and/or formation of weather events.
d. Tornado
e. Hurricane
f. Thunderstorm
g. Blizzard
13. LABS TO REVIEW: write what was done and what was learned from each lab.
h. Heating of the Land and Sea
i. The Effects of Mountains on Precipitation
j. Pressure Gradient and Air Masses
k. Angle of Insolation
l. Insolation, Latitude, and Temperature
m. Investigating Weather Maps
n. Analysis of Weather Data