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Section 12.1 – The Causes of Weather

Section 12.1 – The Causes of Weather. 8 th Grade Earth and Space Science Class Notes. What is Meteorology?. Study of atmospheric phenomena Meteorologist – scientist who studies atmospheric phenomena. Weather vs. Climate. Weather – short-term variations in atmospheric phenomena

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Section 12.1 – The Causes of Weather

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  1. Section 12.1 – The Causes of Weather 8th Grade Earth and Space Science Class Notes

  2. What is Meteorology? • Study of atmospheric phenomena • Meteorologist – scientist who studies atmospheric phenomena

  3. Weather vs. Climate • Weather – short-term variations in atmospheric phenomena • Climate – long-term, average variations in atmospheric phenomena • Determined by 30 year averages

  4. Heating the Earth’s Surface • Solar radiation is constantly heating some portion of the Earth’s surface. • The way solar radiation is distributed ultimately determines weather.

  5. Imbalanced Heating • Earth’s axis is tilted to different parts of the Earth receive different amount of sunlight at different times of the year.

  6. Imbalanced Heating • The Earth is a sphere so different places on Earth are at different angles to the sun. • Some places receive more direct, concentrated sunlight

  7. Thermal Energy Redistribution • Air and water are constantly moving among the Earth’s surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere. • This constant circulation keeps the same average temperatures in a particular area over time.

  8. Air Masses • Air mass – large volume of air with the same characteristics • Source region – area over which an air mass forms

  9. Types of Air Masses

  10. Tropical Air Masses • Maritime tropical – form over tropical bodies of water • In the summer they bring hot, humid weather to the eastern 2/3 of North America • Continental tropical – form over the southwestern US and Mexico

  11. Polar Air Masses • Maritime polar air masses – form over the North Atlantic and North Pacific • Continental polar air masses – form over the interior of Canada and Alaska

  12. Arctic Air Masses • Form over regions north of 60 latitude in Siberia and the Arctic Basin • During part of the winter these areas receive almost no solar radiation and become extremely cold!

  13. Air Mass Modification • Air masses move and as they move they transfer thermal energy. • As energy is transferred, the air masses characteristics change as they exchange thermal energy and moisture with the area they travel over.

  14. Air Mass Characteristics

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