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Science: 5E1: Earth Systems, Structures and Processes

Understand weather patterns and phenomena, making connections to the weather in a particular place and time.

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5.E.1.1 Compare daily and seasonal changes in weather conditions (including wind speed and direction, precipitation, and temperature) and patterns.

5.E.1.2 Predict upcoming weather events from weather data collected through observation and measurements.

5.E.1.3 Explain how global patterns such as the jet stream and water currents influence local weather in measurable terms such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation.

Vocabulary Words: Air pressure, air masses, front, cirrus, condensation, convection, cumulonimbus, cumulous, stratus, cirrus, evaporation, global wind patterns, gulf stream, water cycle, precipitation, prediction, , run-off, stratus, temperature, thermometer, wind, weather, rain gauge, thermometer, anemometer, barometer, sea breeze, land breeze

Water Cycle facts to know (5P.2.1)

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❖ The water cycle is one of earth’s cycles that sustain life.

❖ The water cycle is a vital component in the creation of weather and climate.

❖ The cycling of water is composed of several different phases that include evaporation, condensation, precipitation and run-off.

❖ The sun is the primary energy source for powering the water cycle.

❖ Water on earth is evaporated into the air where it condenses and falls back to the earth in the form of liquid, frozen or mixed precipitation.

❖ Evaporation is the change of liquid into gas or vapor.

❖ Condensation is the change of gas or vapor into liquid.

❖ Precipitation occurs when clouds loose water.

❖ Transpiration is essentially evaporation of water from plant leaves.

❖ Excess precipitation results in run-off or flow of water over the land.

Sample Question:

In which way are evaporation and condensation similar?

A Both cause decreases in air temperature.

B Both cause increases in air temperature.

C Both are caused by the warming of the atmosphere.

D Both are caused by changes in heat energy.

Patterns of Weather

❖ Climate is predictable patterns of weather over time.

❖ Weather is not random, it occurs in predictable patterns.

❖ Weather depends on the elements of temperature, air pressure, wind and moisture.

❖ Various atmospheric factors interact to influence the different and predictable patterns of weather such as the degree of heating and cooling of earth’s surface.

❖ Temperature indicates the relative warmth or coolness of a substance as measured by thermometers.

❖ Clouds are formed when air containing water vapor starts to condense into droplets of moisture. Cloud cover is the amount of sky covered by clouds.

❖ There are different types of clouds that may cover all or parts of the sky.

❖ Precipitation is solid or liquid moisture falling from the sky.

❖ Wind is air in motion. Winds are named for the direction from which the wind blows.

❖ Air pressure is the weight of air particles pressing down on the surface of the earth. Air pressure may be high or low. A high pressure system is associated with cooler temperatures and clear skies. A low pressure system is associated with warmer weather, storms or precipitation.

Air Pressure

|High Air Pressure |Low Air Pressure |

|Generally associated with nice weather |Is generally associated with cloudy, rain or snowy weather |

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Sample Question:

Which will most likely result from a low-pressure weather system?

A warm temperatures

B cloudy conditions

C clear conditions

D cool temperatures

Clouds

❖ Clouds are made of tiny vapors of water, dust and ice crystals. A cloud is the result of invisible water vapor in the air becoming visible.

❖ Visible water vapor in the sky is clouds; visible water vapor near the earth is fog.

❖ Cloud cover is the amount of clouds that are covering the sky.

❖ There are different types of clouds which signal different kinds of information about the weather.

❖ Cirrus- Feathery- like plumes, wispy, high altitude, clouds and are generally white in color. These clouds usually suggest cool windy or breezy conditions.

❖ Stratus-Uniform, grey, low attitude clouds that blanket the whole sky, and lead to grey days. These clouds produce rainy or snowy weather.

❖ Cumulus- dense, white puffy, cotton like, thick, detached clouds that are generally associated with fair weather.

❖ Cumulonimbus- huge, grey and towering; clouds that usually suggest severe weather conditions. These clouds can produce severe thunder and lightning with hail and heavy rains.

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Sample Question

On a cold, cloudy day, the local weather forecaster predicts that a high-pressure

system will be moving into the area in the next 24 hours. Which weather

conditions will this system most likely bring to the area?

A stormy

B sunny

C snowy

D hot

Global atmospheric movement patterns affect local weather

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How is wind measured?

Meteorologists use two main measurements to describe wind: direction and speed.

❖ Wind Direction - Wind direction is described by using the direction that the wind came from. For example, a southerly wind would blow from the south to the north. Wind direction is measured a number of ways including weather vanes, flags, and windsocks.

❖ Wind Speed - The speed of wind is measured in miles per hour or kilometers per hour. Scientists typically use a tool called an anemometer to measure the speed of the wind.

Global Winds

The Earth has consistent wind patterns when looked at from a global scale. Global winds are created by both the spin of the Earth (Coriolis Effect) and the differences in temperature between the equator and the polar areas. These winds are often grouped together as trade winds, easterlies, and westerlies.

• Trade winds - Trade winds occur near the equator and flow from either the north or south towards the equator. They curve towards the west due to the spin of the Earth.

• Prevailing westerlies - In the middle latitudes of the Earth, between 35 and 65 degrees latitude, are the prevailing westerly winds. These winds blow from the west to the east and also towards the poles.

• Polar easterlies - These winds blow close to the north and south poles. They blow away from the poles and curve east to west.

❖ As cool and warm air collides it creates wind.

❖ The collision caused warm air to rise.

❖ As warm air rises it gets cooler.

❖ Cooler air causes the water vapor in the atmosphere to condense or form water droplets.

❖ When water droplets become heavy enough, they fall as precipitation (remember the water cycle). Cool air can not hold as much moisture as warm air.

❖ There are many types of wind patterns that affect global weather patterns. The wind pattern that affects our state are the Prevailing Westerlies named so because they blow in from the West.

❖ The Prevailing Westerlies move weather form west to east.

❖ There are four different types of air masses that may blow in and affect the local weather.

1. Air masses that are cold and dry

2. Air masses that are hot and dry

3. Air masses that are cool and moist

4. Air masses that are warm and moist

❖ When a warm air mass comes into contact with a warm air mass you will have a front or severe weather.

Warm air mass FRONT Cold air mass

❖ Scientist use satellites, computers and many other instruments to track and analyze conditions of the weather.

❖ Weather in your area may be different from weather in another part of the state or country.

Sample Question:

The weather forecast indicates that a warm front will be moving into the area in

the next 24 hours. Which type of weather will most likely result?

A clear skies and cold temperatures

B clear skies and hot temperatures

C cloudy skies and rainy weather

D heavy snow and ice

Understand that local weather conditions are influenced by global factors such as air and water currents. 5.E.1.3

❖ The jet stream is an air current in the upper atmosphere, located over North America that has a powerful influence on the weather conditions there. The jet stream flows from the west to the east and changes location depending on global conditions.

❖ The Gulf stream is a warm water surface current in the Atlantic ocean that moves from south of Florida up the eastern seaboard and then across the Atlantic. The Gulf stream moderates weather along the eastern seaboard, warming the air and land there during the cooler months.

❖ In the Pacific, there is an oscillation of water temperatures known as El Nino/La Nina. This oscillation impacts the climate of North and South America for long periods of time. Hurricanes are major storms that form over warm ocean water and are caused by global weather patterns.

Sample Question:

What will most likely result when the jet stream moves south of North Carolina?

A North Carolina will experience tropical weather conditions.

B North Carolina will experience hot, dry weather.

C North Carolina will experience mild weather.

D North Carolina will experience cold weather.

Sample Question

Which is the best explanation for how air masses move across the United States?

A. The prevailing westerlies move air masses from west to east across the

United States but may be deflected by the jet stream.

B. The trade winds move air masses from west to east across the

United States.

C. The jet stream moves air masses from the Pacific Ocean across the

United States.

D. The warm air of the Gulf Stream causes air masses to move from the

Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Weather Data/ Climate records/Weather Trends

❖ Weather can be observed and information about weather can be collected, measured and recorded, analyzed and presented.

❖ Weather information is collected and analyzed using many different tools, techniques, and strategies. (Including maps, charts, computers, satellites, balloons and storm chasers.)

WEATHER TOOLS

|Anemometer Measures |Wind Speed |

|Thermometer Measures |Temperature |

|Barometer Measures |Air Pressure |

|Rain Gauge Measures |Precipitation |

|Wind Vane/Wind Sock Measures |Wind Direction |

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|A RAIN GAUGE measures the amount of rain that has fallen over a |A WIND VANE is an instrument that determines the direction from |

|specific time period. |which the wind is blowing. |

|An ANEMOMETER measures wind speed. The cups catch the wind, |A BAROMETER measures air pressure. It tells you whether or not |

|turning a dial attached to the instrument. The dial shows the |the pressure is rising or falling. A rising barometer means sunny|

|wind speed. |and dry conditions, while a falling barometer means stormy and |

| |wet conditions |

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Andy lives in the southern hemisphere. What season does he most likely

experience in August?

A spring

B summer

C winter

D autumn

Sea Breeze and Land Breezes

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Sea Breeze Land Breeze

Sample Question

Which best describes why winds at the beach change direction between day and

night?

A because the temperatures over land and over water change

B because warm air over land sinks and stays in place over land

C because cool air rises and is replaced by warm air from the ocean

D because cool air sinks and stays in place over land



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Low Air Pressure- high altitude

High Air Pressure-low altitude

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