Chapter 3.1 Weather Questions Name: ______Date ______Pd.______

Answer the questions in complete sentences.

1. How much area can an air mass cover?

2. Use the chart below to list information about the 4 air masses. List the characteristic locations, temperatures, moisture content and pressures.

Type of Air Mass / Characteristic Location / Temperature / Moisture Content / Pressure
Maritime Tropical
Continental Tropical
Maritime Polar
Continental Polar

3 .Which 4 air masses influence the weather in North America?

4. Describe how and where Maritime Tropical air masses originate on the East coast.

5. What kinds of weather do these air masses bring in the summertime? In the wintertime?

6. What types of weather do Maritime Polar air masses bring to the West coast?

7. Where do Continental Tropical air masses form in the United States?

8. What types of weather do they bring?

9. Where do Continental Polar air masses form? What type of weather do they bring?

10. What happens when Maritime tropical air masses collide with Continental Polar air masses?

11. What wind belt moves air masses in North America? Which general direction does air move?

12. Why don’t air masses mix easily?

13. Which air mass will be less dense, warm or cold? What happens to the less dense air mass?

14. What types of weather often occur at a front?

15. What are the approximate dimensions ofa typical front?

16. What are the four types of fronts that can occur?

17. Describe how a cold front is produced.

18. What happens if the displaced warm air contains a lot of moisture? if it contains a little moisture?

19. What produces a stationary front? What types of weather are associated with these types of fronts?

20. What type of weather does an occluded fronts produce?

21. In which direction do cyclonic winds spin? What type of pressure is associated with cyclonic systems?

22. Cyclones are associated with what types of weather events?

23. In which direction do anticyclones spin? What type of pressure system is associated with anticyclones?

Chapter 3.2 Weather Questions

1. What kinds of changes cause storms to develop?

2. Where do thunderstorms develop?

3. What events cause the development of a thunderstorm?

4. How is lightning produced by a thunderstorm?

5. How is thunder produced during a lightning storm?

6. What are some health effects if struck by lightning?

7. Why might it be a bad idea to stand under a large tree on a golf course during a thunderstorm?

8. When do floods occur?

9. What are tornadoes called if they form over water?

10. How fast can the winds of a tornado move?

11. Where do tornadoes develop, and what seasons and times of day are they most likely to occur?

12. Describe the conditions that might produce a line of tornadoes on the Great Plains.

13. What states comprise ‘tornado alley’?

14. Where is the safest place to be during a tornado?

15. What is the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

16. How large is an average hurricane?

17. What are hurricanes called that form in the eastern Pacific Ocean?

18. Describe how a hurricane develops.

19. How fast can hurricane winds blow?

20. What is the eye of the hurricane? How does it differ from the rest of the hurricane?

21. How long do most hurricanes last? What winds guide their path? What happens to their strength as they move over land?

22. What is the difference between a hurricane watch and hurricane warning?

23. What produces snow?

24. Why do Buffalo and Rochester get so much snow every year?

25. What should be done if you are caught outside in a snowstorm?

26. Why are high winds during a snow storm so dangerous?

Chapter 3.3 Weather Questions

1. How can a barometer be used to predict weather? Give an example.

2. How can clouds help predict the weather?

3. What do meteorologists use to gather information about the weather? List 5 different materials.

4. What two areas of weather technology have changed significantly?

5. What information do satellites provide?

6. How have computers assisted in weather prediction?

7. What is a weather map?

8. What kind of information is found on a weather map?

9. Describe and give an example of the “Butterfly Effect”.

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