Introduction to Weather - WebQuest

Matthew Miller & David StoelzelEDU 505

Summer 2013

Introduction

The weather is one of the few aspects in science that you will have a constant interaction with for the rest of your life. How many times have you wanted to know what the weather was going to be in order to figure out what to wear or if you were going to be able to go to an outdoor event? By learning the different factors that go into changing the weather, you will be better prepared for it.

Task

Your task within this WebQuest is to walk through several websites that will introduce you to different aspects of the study of weather. You will also be answering several questions as you go through this WebQuest.

ProcessStarting on the next slide, follow the steps laid out to complete this WebQuest. As you go through this WebQuest answer the questions that follow. Base your answers on the information found on the websites given.

Directions: Follow the links provided to answer all of the questions…Good luck! Weather for Kids:

A. Web Weather For Kids – Clouds

- Click http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud2.html

1. What is the main process behind cloud formation? _________________ 2. When water molecules move fast enough to escape into the air, the

molecules are ______________________

3. What can you do to a container of water to make the water evaporate faster? ______________

4. Click on the link to see how temperature affects air molecules:

a. Describe what happens to the “red” molecules as you adjust the

temperature bar. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Go back to the main “Cloud” web page, Click on “Cloud Types”.

A. List 2 characteristics for the following cloud types:

1. Low clouds-Stratus: 2. Middle clouds- Altostratus: 3. High clouds - Cirrus: 4. a. Clouds with vertical development – Cumulus: b. What are 3 weather related events we get from cumulonimbus clouds?

B. Winds: Click Here Read the paragraph at the top, above the links:

a. What leads to the development of winds? ____________________________________________________

Go to the link “Pressure”

b. Atmospheric pressure is defined as the ___________________ per

unit area exerted against a ________________ by the ______________ of the air above that surface.

c. If the number of air molecules above a surface

_________________, there are _______________ molecules to exert a force on that surface and the pressure

____________________.

d. What is the air pressure at sea level? ________________________

-Click the “” at the bottom to move to the next page titled “variation with height”

e. Where would you find fewer air molecules, 50 km above the surface or

12 km above? _________________________

f. More than half of the atmospheres molecules are located below ______________________km

-Click the “ “ at the bottom to move to the next page titled “isobars”

g. A line drawn on a weather map connecting points of equal ___________________is called an "________________". Isobars are are recorded in ________________________.

-Click the “ “ until you reach the screen titled “High Pressure Centers”.

h. What’s another way to describe a high pressure center?

__________________ _________________

k. Label the Anticyclone below:

H

l. Look at the animation of the eastern U.S. with a High and Low pressure System at the bottom of the screen. Observe the motion of the arrows that represent air movement around the two types of pressure centers.

High pressure centers: Winds flow _________________________ Low pressure centers: Winds flow __________________________ Read the paragraph below the animation.

m. Why is f air weather associated with an area of high pressure? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Click the “ “ until you reach the screen titled “Low Pressure Centers”.

n. Why is cloudy weather (with likely precipitation) associated with an area of low pressure?

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 4. Go to “Names of Wind”

Ø List 2 winds and describes them:

a. __________________ - b. __________________ -

5. Go to “Wind Chill Explained with Calculator”:

a. What is the wind chill factor?

_________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

b. Choose a temperature: 20 0F Choose a wind speed: 25 mi/hr Calculate the Wind Chill Factor: __________________

6. Precipitation: Rain: Go to:

How does freezing rain develop?______________________________

______________________________________________________

Where does freezing rain fall mostly? _________________________

Why? ________________________________________________________________________________

Snow: Go to http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/snow/snow.shtml What are the 3 variables needed to make snow?

1. ____________________________________________ 2. ____________________________________________ 3. ____________________________________________

List 3 different snow types: 1. ___________________ _______________ 2. ___________________ _______________ 3. ___________________ _______________

Hail: Go http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/cae/svrwx/hail.htm How does hail form?_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________

How large can hail get? _______________________________

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cld/prcp/home.rxml Click on “Freezing Rain”

7. Wild Weather Blizzards: Go to: http://www.ussartf.org/blizzards.htm

How does the National Weather Service define a blizzard?_____________ _________________________________________________________

____________ _____________________________________________

Hurricanes: Go to http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-hurricane.htm Provide the following facts about hurricanes:

· Rotates _______________________ around an ______________ · A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when winds reach

______ ____mph · Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from ________________ to

____________________. · The major reason to stay away from the ocean during a hurricane is

because of the ________________________ which does the MOST DAMAGE and causes the MOST DEATHS.

4. Go to http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.cfm

a. What causes a land breeze? __________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Draw a diagram of a land breeze below:

b. What causes a sea breeze ? _______ ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Draw a diagram of a sea breeze below:

Resources

http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/cloud2.html http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/fw/home.rxml http://ggweather.com/winds.html http://www.learner.org/interactives/weather/act_windchill/ http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/cld/prcp/home.rxm

l http://www.units.muohio.edu/dragonfly/snow/snow.shtml http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/cae/svrwx/hail.htm http://www.ussartf.org/blizzards.htm www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-hurricane.htm http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualization

s/es1903/es1903page01.cfm

Evaluation

Conclusion

Now that you have an introduction to the study of weather, you are now prepared to use this information and new found knowledge to better prepare yourself for everyday interaction with the weather. Especially recognizing and planning for severer weather.