U3M3L3: Weather Patterns

The map describes and shows the movement of air masses over North America. Which does NOT describe these air masses?

• They move from cooler areas to warmer areas.

• They are consistent in temperature humidity, and pressure.

• They take on the characteristics of the Earth's surface below them as they form.

• They can affect the weather of an area when they meet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Low-pressure systems bring ___________________.

• clouds and precipitation.

• clear and blue skies.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following occurs as altitude increases?

• Air pressure decreases.

• Air pressure increases.

• Air pressure remains the same.

• Air pressure behaves unpredictably because the two are unrelated.

High pressure systems usually bring good weather because _______.

• the air masses rise, preventing precipitation from falling

• the air masses sink, making it difficult for clouds to form

• the air masses rise, causing wind that blows away the clouds

• the air masses sink, forcing air to move from low pressure to high pressure

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Your town is experiencing a drought in which the weather has been hot and dry for weeks. Infer which type of pressure system is stalled over the area.

• Low pressure

• High pressure

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A cold front forms when a cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass. The cold air pushes the warm air up rapidly, and clouds form along the front, producing rain and thunderstorms.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

A cold front occurs when a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, and the warm air slides up over the cold air. Clouds may form and produce rain or snow.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Jane predicts that Chicago will become cooler and Detroit will become warmer over the next 24 hours. Describe where the weather fronts shown in the key need to be placed on the map in order to match Jane’s prediction.

• The cold front should be below (south) of Chicago and the warm front should be below (south) of Detroit.

• The cold front should be to the right (east) of Chicago and the warm front should be to the right (east) of Detroit.

• The cold front should be to the left (west) of Chicago and the warm front should be to the left (west) of Detroit.

• The cold front should be above (north) of Chicago and the warm front should be above (north) of Detroit.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which prediction about the weather is accurate, based on the evidence in the map?

• Location W will have cooler temperatures, because a cold front is moving toward it.

• Location X will have cloudy skies, because it is positioned within a high-pressure system.

• Location Y will be stormy, because it is positioned where a cold front meets a warm front.

• Location Z will be calm, because it is far away from both the high- and low-pressure systems.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Scientists are monitoring two colliding air masses along a frontal boundary. They are concerned that a tornado may form. Which data collected along the frontal boundary would best alert scientists that the two colliding air masses may cause a tornado?

• strong gusty winds and cloudy skies where the fronts meet

• air masses of the same temperature and altitude coming together where the fronts meet

• large differences in temperature, humidity, and air pressure on either side of where the fronts meet

• many similarities in the altitude of clouds, amount of clouds, and wind direction on either side of where the fronts meet

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5