Different Format for Today

For Round 1, tables 1-3 should come to the inner circle. Tables 4-7 should go get computers and log into SocraCircle:

Period 1: http://tinyurl.com/uwms49p link

Period 3: http://tinyurl.com/w742wpg link

Period 4: http://tinyurl.com/vekbc9l link

Period 5: http://tinyurl.com/uwethcg link

ROUND 1: Debrief the Lab

BIG IDEA 2: The hydrosphere and atmosphere are constantly interacting as they transfer heat between them.

1. What is the hydrosphere?

2. What is the atmosphere?

3. One molecule of water can rise high into the atmosphere and travel all the way around the planet. What is causing this journey to take place?

4. How do water molecules from the ocean gain thermal energy?

5. How do water molecules from the ocean exchange thermal energy with the atmosphere?

6. When ocean water evaporates and moves into the atmosphere, why does this water vapor transfer heat energy to the atmosphere?

7. What eventually happens to these water molecules that have evaporated into the atmosphere?

8. How does this process of evaporation create movement in the atmosphere?

9. How does all this movement affect the climate on Earth? What would the climate be like in different places if this didn't occur?

BIG IDEA 3: Wind moves around the planet in predictable patterns that are affected by the rotation of the Earth.

1. How does the tilt of the Earth affect the patterns of wind around the planet?

2. What is the Coriolis effect?

3. How does the Coriolis effect cause wind to move in the northern hemisphere?

4. Why do the trade winds blow from the northeast to the southwest in the northern hemisphere?

5. Why do the trade winds blow from the southeast to the northwest in the southern hemisphere?

6. How are the westerlies different than the trade winds?

BIG IDEA 4: An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and humidity throughout.

1. What are air masses?

2. How do air masses form?

3. How does heat transfer relate to air masses?

4. Where do maritime polar air masses form and what are their properties?

5. How are maritime polar air masses different from continental polar air masses? Why are they different?

6. How are maritime tropical air masses different than maritime polar air masses?

7. How is the water cycle connected to the formation of maritime tropical air masses?

BIG IDEA 5: When air masses form, they begin to move around the planet because of temperature differences, Earth's rotation, and surface features such as mountains.

1. Once an air mass forms, does it stay where it is? Why or why not?

2. What happens to the heat and moisture carried by an air mass as it moves?

3. What happens when two air masses collide with one another?

4. What is a cold front? How does it form?

5. What is a warm front? How does it form?

6. Why are warm fronts generally associated with light rain and snow instead of severe storms (like cold fronts)?

7. What is an occluded front? How does it form?

BIG IDEA 6: Weather forecasting is complex and often inaccurate because one small change in any variable can have a dramatic effect on the weather.

1. On weather maps. what do the red L's and blue H's represent?

2. What are high pressure systems? How are they different from low pressure systems?

3. What type of weather is associated with high pressure systems? Why?

4. What type of weather is associated with low pressure systems? Why?

5. What are some instruments that scientists use to predict weather?

6. When forecasting weather, why do scientists need to use data from all over the world?