Chapter 5 – Chapter 5 – Earth’s WeatherEarth’s Weather

Lesson 5 –Lesson 5 –Predicting the Predicting the

WeatherWeather

© Brent Coley 2010 | www.mrcoley.com© Brent Coley 2010 | www.mrcoley.com

Who needs to know what Who needs to know what the weather will be?the weather will be?• forecastforecast: to predict what will : to predict what will

happen based on what you happen based on what you know and seeknow and see• Scientists use air pressure, Scientists use air pressure,

wind speed and direction, wind speed and direction, air temperature, and types air temperature, and types of clouds to forecast the of clouds to forecast the weather.weather.

Who needs to know what Who needs to know what the weather will be?the weather will be?• A A weather mapweather map shows the shows the

weather in a given area at weather in a given area at one time.one time.

Who needs to know what Who needs to know what the weather will be?the weather will be?• Weather maps list Weather maps list

information like air information like air temperature, wind speed temperature, wind speed and direction, and cloud and direction, and cloud cover.cover.

What do weather fronts tell What do weather fronts tell you?you?• A A frontfront is where one air is where one air

mass meets another air mass meets another air mass.mass.• Rain or storms occur along Rain or storms occur along

fronts.fronts.

What do weather fronts tell What do weather fronts tell you?you?• Warm fronts are shown with Warm fronts are shown with

red half circles.red half circles.

What do weather fronts tell What do weather fronts tell you?you?• Cold fronts are shown with Cold fronts are shown with

blue triangles.blue triangles.

What do weather fronts tell What do weather fronts tell you?you?• The The jet stream jet stream is a global is a global

wind that blows across the wind that blows across the United States from west to United States from west to east.east.

westwest easteast

(up to 150 miles per (up to 150 miles per hour)hour)

jet jet streamstream

What are lows and highs?What are lows and highs?

• Low Pressure SystemsLow Pressure Systems– Warm and humidWarm and humid– Bring warm, stormy weatherBring warm, stormy weather

• High Pressure SystemsHigh Pressure Systems– Cool and dryCool and dry– Bring dry, clear, fair Bring dry, clear, fair weatherweather

What are lows and highs?What are lows and highs?

• Scientists collect weather Scientists collect weather data by using:data by using:– weather satellitesweather satellites– weather balloonsweather balloons– Doppler radarDoppler radar

Weather map images are Weather map images are public domain and courtesy public domain and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. All of Wikimedia Commons. All images courtesy of Microsoft images courtesy of Microsoft

Office Online.Office Online.