science

Explain Coriolis Effect to ocean current and its connection to ocean currents.
Coriolis Effect is the movement of water to the right of Earth's rotation. Coriolis Effect is caused by wind movement across the ocean surface which (in turn) affects the movement of ocean currents.

How is the jet stream used by weather forecasters?
The jet stream is used by weather forecasters to predict weather events. Most weather systems are moved forward via a jet stream. Jet streams are strong currents of rapidly moving air that move west to east & have the ability to push weather patterns around.

This map is showing wet weather; explain what is happening (include the causes of this weather situation).
The map is showing that due to low pressure, a storm formed; and it appears to be bringing a great deal of rain.

Explain low pressure and its influence on weather.
Low pressure is where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of the surrounding area. Low pressure is associated with "bad" weather like cloudiness, windy, rain storms.

Explain high pressure and its influence on weather.
High pressure is a build-up of air near Earth's surface; caused by converging winds at higher altitudes that send colder air sinking. This air cools in the higher altitudes; it sinks because it’s more dense & moves toward the ground, increasing the pressure.

Illustrate and identify, then explain the symbols of stationary front, warm front, cold front, occluded front.
Stationary front: a stalled front with warmer air on one side of it & cold air on the other side of it - the frontal boundary is not moving.
Cold front: colder air mass moves toward a warmer air mass; a cold front forms. The colder denser air pushes underneath the warm air mass. The warm air rises cooling as vapor condenses to form clouds/storm. Showers & thunderstorms frequently form along a cold front - Temps drop (colder). Winds become gusty & change direction (cold fronts are associated with severe storms).
Warm front: is when less dense, warmer air moves over the cold air mass - the warm air (vapor) condenses & creates clouds - resulting in rain (also warm front causes winds to shift direction).
Occluded fronts: a fast-moving cold front catches up to slow-moving warm front. This makes a blocked front.

Illustrate convection currents and explain their impact on the atmosphere.
Convection currents are caused by the Sun’s uneven heating of the Earth’s surface - the heat is "released" from the ground surface (as heat rises) & the atmosphere (air & gases we breathe) is heated. The warmed air/gases rise and cools - only to be re-heated to rise - then cools. Warmed air is less dense. Cooled air is more dense.

Observe the information above. Based on the data table, tell about each city’s climate (include what you think their seasons could be like, precipitation influences, humidity?)
City 1 - Mild seasons - more arid - not high humidity
City 2 - Temperate - definitive seasons - high humidity - raining often - close to ocean - more water vapor
City 3 - Temperate - definitive seasons - moderate humidity -
City 4 - Temperate - definitive seasons - high humidity - rain - close to shore - Northern location close to warmer air - snow & ice - more precipitation (northern location - close to warmer air)

Explain how temperatures of ocean currents can impact climate (remember the Galapagos).
Warm ocean currents impact climate; like cold currents impact climate - as evidenced by the Hawaiian Islands & the Island of Palau (also islands of Galapagos). The Galapagos & Hawaiian Islands are located where more direct sunlight is on the islands; yet they remain cooler because of the cold ocean currents that flow past them - the currents do not give off enough heat to impact climate to be warmer; but they are impacted with cold currents meeting the warm air - H2O condenses and becomes vapor - the cold - humidity w/ colder temps.

Give step-by-step explanation of how hurricanes begin.
Hurricanes (tropical cyclone's scientific name) begin with warm moist ocean air rising upward - as it rises, it creates an area of low pressure below it. The area of low pressure draws in the surrounding air as it rises. The incoming air warms as it is pulled into the low-pressure area (region). This too will rise as it reaches the center of the cyclone. The Coriolis Effect causes the air masses to swirl around the eye of swirling air. (The air continues to warm, forcing more air into the low-pressure area (creates a cyclone or hurricane). The warm moist air cools as it moves upwards; the clouds swirl & travel around the calm center of the storm.)

What does a hurricane need to gain strength and grow?
Hurricanes need warm ocean water to gain strength and grow (pg. 201).

What causes a hurricane's "death"?
When hurricanes make landfall they weaken and eventually die - because they cannot get energy or warm moist air from land.

Thoroughly explain how winds form.
Wind is the movement of air from high pressure to low pressure - Wind Patterns can be local or global - Uneven heating of the Earth - dense cold air (high pressure) sinking with warm less dense air rising (low pressure) - the pressure differences cause the air movement that we call wind.

Discuss the roles of the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, convection currents, & the Sun in the illustration.
Atmosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
Hydrosphere - is the system containing all solid & liquid water on Earth.
Energy from the Sun is called radiation - Radiation is the transfer of thermal energy from one medium to another (via Electromagnetic Waves). The amount in an area of Earth receives depends on the Sun's position on that day; that time of day - for example, the Sun's intensity is less intense at sunrise. Uneven heating causes the atmospheric pressure's density to change - warm air is less dense than cold air pressure - which causes the air to move (this is wind). The greater the difference in air pressure, the greater the wind speed - H2O condensation for movement through atmosphere transports heat & this creates other changes like cloud formation that moves heat & demonstrates that H2O & thermal energy are transported from one location to another.

Use words to thoroughly describe the water cycle’s connection to hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the Sun.
Atmospheric connection - Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to Earth in the form of rain or snow (water in different phases moves through the atmosphere).
Hydrosphere connection - Water moves through hydrosphere in a cycle - water collects in bodies of water (lakes, rivers, ponds, oceans). Then it evaporates into the atmosphere to start all over again.
Sun’s connection to water cycle - The movement of water from ocean to atmosphere, to land and back - Water cycle is fueled by energy from the Sun (energy from Sun warms atmosphere, land, ocean, & evaporates water).

Give a thorough description of how and where a tropical cyclone storm forms, the two things needed for this kind of storm to form and what would cause this storm to lose energy and eventually die out.
Tropical Cyclones are a rotating organized system of clouds & thunderstorms that originate over tropical or subtropical waters with low-level closed circulation. Rotate Counterclockwise in Northern Hemisphere - called Hurricanes in Northern Hemisphere. Northwest Pacific called a typhoon - which is a tropical cyclone occurring in the Philippines or the China Sea. They need warm waters & winds (a pre-existing weather system).

Explain the above air masses… cold, warm, and what could happen when their fronts meet.
Global Wind Patterns move large bodies of air called air masses = Air Mass 1 is a cold air mass that is making everything cold within its boundary - high pressure. Air Mass 2 is a warm air mass making everything warm within its boundary - low pressure because heat rises - chances of rain.

Are there differences between trade winds and Easterly or Westerly winds? Explain.
Trade winds are winds that blow steadily from east to west between 30°N & 30°S (latitude) - flow from Subtropical high pressure belts to Equatorial low pressure belts.
Westerlies are steady winds that flow from west to east between latitudes of 30°N & 60°N and 30°S & 60°S - they flow from subtropical high-pressure belts to subpolar low-pressure belts.
Easterlies (polar) blow away from the Poles - Polar Winds are cold.
Trade Winds, are also known as Easterlies are prevailing east to west winds that blow in the Equatorial region of the Earth - different names for the same winds. All are permanent winds.

Can Jet streams impact weather? Thoroughly explain ways it can do this.
Jet streams influence weather as they move cold air from the poles toward the tropics - Jet streams also move warm air from the tropics toward the poles. Jet streams vary more than prevailing winds.

What if the jet stream in the above illustration moved further south and east (getting much closer to Texas)? What would happen to the weather in Texas?
The polar jet stream would bring cold air and probably some rain.

Look at illustration below… outside of the eye is (high or low?) Circle correct response. Expound and explain air pressure’s locations in a hurricane and what are the results of the air pressures while the hurricane is over water.
High air pressure at the eye wall as the rotating winds sink at the eye wall. Low pressure at circular "arms" - that spin - pick up more water - as they rotate go higher & cool, then sink at center forming the eye.

Expound on easterly winds (locations in latitude and impacts).
Polar Easterlies at the North & South Pole.

Explain what are westerly winds (locations in latitude and impacts).
Westerlies are prevailing winds that flow from west to east between latitudes 30°N & 60°N & 30°S & 60°S.

What are the winds below 60° latitude? Do they impact Texas weather or climate? Why or why not?
Winds below 60° are the Trade winds - Easterly trade winds help steer large-scale weather patterns and have a significant impact on weather and climate in Texas.

Explain trade winds' impact on weather.
Steady winds that flow from east to west between latitudes 30°N & 30°S - at about 30°N & 30°S there is a high pressure which creates a high pressure at the equator - The light winds here are called "doldrums" - this impacted the shipping trade before engine powered boats.

How do land breezes and ocean breezes interact? Which: land temperatures or water temperatures are more rapidly than the other and why?
Uneven heating of land & water (land heats & cools more rapidly) - Uneven heating of the Earth between two different air masses - During sunny day the Earth heats up quickly from Solar Radiation - forms less dense rising air = low pressure - Cooler, dense ocean waters cause high pressure - the cooler air (high pressure) moves into the warmer (low pressure). Air flowing toward the land creates a sea breeze. In the evening, the land loses heat quickly - (heat rises = land breeze).
A land breeze - when Sun sets, the land surface quickly loses heat. This creates colder temps and colder temps create high pressure; more dense sinking air. Over the ocean the air is still warm (because water stays warmer longer than land after sundown) the air is less dense (low pressure). Air flows from land to sea resulting in a land breeze - this can lead to rain from the ocean.

Explain specific heat; what is high specific heat and low specific heat?
Specific heat is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. High specific heat means a substance heats and cools slowly (like water), while low specific heat means it heats and cools quickly (like sand or metal).

Explain what causes water to evaporate from the ocean.
Heat energy from the Sun causes water on the surface to evaporate in the form of vapor - The vapor rises into the atmosphere (where the air is colder) and condenses into clouds. Air currents (winds) move these clouds all around the earth.

Where do cyclones and hurricanes get their energy from?
Cyclones and hurricanes get their energy from warm waters.

How does latitude influence climate?
Locations closer to the equator are warmer and more humid (0° latitude) because of the angle of solar light. Latitude affects climate & temperature because of solar light.

How does elevation influence climate?
Elevation affects climate; higher altitude experiences lower air pressure; cooler temperatures, more precipitation & stronger winds.

In the above weather map: Tell what is the weather experience at each front (pay attention to the pressure systems as well).
High pressure in North West - Cold from Seattle to Denver - Cold front moving South & East (past Denver).
Warm front moving North and East - with a low pressure behind it - chance of rain.
Stationary front from Eastern Canada to South of Miami.

Explain each pressure: Continental Tropical Air Pressure, Continental Polar Air Pressure, Continental Arctic Air Pressure, Maritime Polar Air Pressure, Maritime Tropical Air Pressure.
Continental Tropical Air Masses (pressure) - form over dry desert land - they are hot & dry. They bring clear skies & high temps - Usually form in the summer - often forms across West Texas, New Mexico & Arizona.
Continental Polar Air Mass (pressure) - land cannot transfer as much moisture as oceans. Polar air masses are dry, fast moving and bring cold temps in winter & cool weather in summer - They often bring huge snowfalls to southern and eastern U.S.
Continental Arctic Masses (Pressure) - Bitterly cold - form over Siberia & Arctic - contain bitter cold dry air - During winter months - can bring temps down to -90°F.
Maritime Polar Masses (Pressure) - form over the Atlantic & Pacific - they are cold & humid, bringing rain & cloudy weather.
Maritime Tropical Air Masses (Pressure) - form over western Atlantic ocean, the Gulf of Mexico & the Pacific. Moist air brings hot, humidity, much precipitation to southeast U.S.

Look at this diagram. What is happening and why? What are the causes of this?
Warm ocean currents impact climates and weather.

Explain the sea and land breezes cause and changes (include the causes).
Land breezes occur because when the Sun sets, land loses heat quickly. When the land cools, the air is more dense; creating higher pressure. The ocean is slow to lose heat (to cool). The air over the ocean is warm (less dense) and low pressure. The cooler air (high pressure) moves out to the less dense warmer air that is low pressure - this can result in a rain storm & a land breeze (remember high pressure moves to low pressure).
Sea Breezes - At sunrise, the ocean is cooled - the Ocean air is cooler and dense - radiating with high pressure. Land heats up quickly with the Sun's radiating heat. The air over the land is less dense - warmed - and low in pressure. High Pressure moves to low pressure - & heat rises with cooler dense air coming. Thus, a sea breeze results - a breeze that blows from the sea to the land.