Atmosphere and Heat Transfer Web Quest
Atmosphere and Heat Transfer Web Quest
Directions: Click on the link above each set questions to find the answers.
Layers of the Atmosphere
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/layers.html
1. Name the five layers of the atmosphere:
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere (some scientist consider this layer to be part of space)
2. Click on the words “atmosphere” and each layer of the atmosphere to fill in the blanks below:
a. What are the two main gases found in the atmosphere?
1. Nitrogen
2. Oxygen
b. The troposphere is the _lowest_ region of the Earth's atmosphere and is where _weather_ occurs.
c. The stratosphere contains the __ which absorbs __. Look at the diagram: __ and __ can fly in the stratosphere.
d. As you go higher in the mesosphere, the temperature becomes _cooler_. Scientists do not know much about the mesosphere, but they do know that _meteors_ burn up in this layer.
e. The thermosphere contains a layer of charged particles called the _ions_ which makes communication by __ possible and is home to the _aurora_ (Northern Lights). This is the layer in which _spaceshuttles_ fly.
f. In the exosphere the atmosphere is very _thin_ as it begins to fade into space.
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/atmosphere/index.html
3. Look at the diagram and click “layer Names – Show It.” List the height span of each layer:
a. Troposphere 0-12 km
b. Stratosphere 12-50 km
c. Mesosphere 50-85 km
d. Thermosphere 85-600 km
4. Click “Temperatures – Show it”. What happens to the temperature in each layer (does it get hotter or colder?)?
a. Troposphere Colder
b. Stratosphere Hotter
c. Mesosphere Hotter
d. Thermosphere Hotter
Heat Transfer
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=SCE304
5. Conduction is the transfer of heat between _hot and cold_
6. Why does the hand need an oven mitt in order to pick up the pot from the stove? The hand will be burnt without the use of an oven mitt.
7. List four good conductors and four poor conductors:
Good Poor
1. _Copper_ 1. _Wood_
2. _Silver_ 2. _Styrofoam_
3. _Iron_ 3. _Paper_
4. _Steel_ 4. _Air_
8. Convection is the up and down movement of _gases_ and _liquids_ caused by heat transfer.
9. What happens to the air as the stove heats it? It warms, expands and rises.
11. What happens to the air as it gets farther from the heat source? It cools down
12. List four examples of convection: Wind currents, hot air balloon, lowest floor of a building being colder than the highest floor, warm water at the surface of a body of water.
13. When _electromagnetic waves_ travel through space it is called radiation.
14. What happens to the temperature of the house as the sun’s radiant energy touches it? The temperature of the house rises.
15. List three examples of radiation: A campfire, light bulb, and a microwave oven.
Directions: Click on the link above each set questions to find the answers.
Layers of the Atmosphere
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Atmosphere/layers.html
1. Name the five layers of the atmosphere:
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere (some scientist consider this layer to be part of space)
2. Click on the words “atmosphere” and each layer of the atmosphere to fill in the blanks below:
a. What are the two main gases found in the atmosphere?
1. Nitrogen
2. Oxygen
b. The troposphere is the _lowest_ region of the Earth's atmosphere and is where _weather_ occurs.
c. The stratosphere contains the __ which absorbs __. Look at the diagram: __ and __ can fly in the stratosphere.
d. As you go higher in the mesosphere, the temperature becomes _cooler_. Scientists do not know much about the mesosphere, but they do know that _meteors_ burn up in this layer.
e. The thermosphere contains a layer of charged particles called the _ions_ which makes communication by __ possible and is home to the _aurora_ (Northern Lights). This is the layer in which _spaceshuttles_ fly.
f. In the exosphere the atmosphere is very _thin_ as it begins to fade into space.
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/earthguide/diagrams/atmosphere/index.html
3. Look at the diagram and click “layer Names – Show It.” List the height span of each layer:
a. Troposphere 0-12 km
b. Stratosphere 12-50 km
c. Mesosphere 50-85 km
d. Thermosphere 85-600 km
4. Click “Temperatures – Show it”. What happens to the temperature in each layer (does it get hotter or colder?)?
a. Troposphere Colder
b. Stratosphere Hotter
c. Mesosphere Hotter
d. Thermosphere Hotter
Heat Transfer
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=SCE304
5. Conduction is the transfer of heat between _hot and cold_
6. Why does the hand need an oven mitt in order to pick up the pot from the stove? The hand will be burnt without the use of an oven mitt.
7. List four good conductors and four poor conductors:
Good Poor
1. _Copper_ 1. _Wood_
2. _Silver_ 2. _Styrofoam_
3. _Iron_ 3. _Paper_
4. _Steel_ 4. _Air_
8. Convection is the up and down movement of _gases_ and _liquids_ caused by heat transfer.
9. What happens to the air as the stove heats it? It warms, expands and rises.
11. What happens to the air as it gets farther from the heat source? It cools down
12. List four examples of convection: Wind currents, hot air balloon, lowest floor of a building being colder than the highest floor, warm water at the surface of a body of water.
13. When _electromagnetic waves_ travel through space it is called radiation.
14. What happens to the temperature of the house as the sun’s radiant energy touches it? The temperature of the house rises.
15. List three examples of radiation: A campfire, light bulb, and a microwave oven.
Altocumulus Cloud Description
Earth Science Wind/Pressure/Weather WebQuest
Part 1. Air Masses
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_mass Find out what an air mass is.
a. What is an airmass? An airmass is a volume of air defined water vapor content and temperature.
b. Explain the difference between a “continental(c) ” air mass, and a “maritime(m)” air mass. Continental air masses are more dry, while maritime air masses are formed over bodies of water and are much more moist.
c. Explain the difference between a “polar(P)” air mass and a “tropical(T)” air mass. Polar air masses form over high altitudes above either land or oceans. Tropical air masses have lower latitudes.
2. They describe an air mass by its Moisture content and Temperature, so each air mass has two letters. Name each air mass and describe it by moisture content and temperature.
cP = continental polar cT = continental tropical
mP = maritime polar mT = maritime tropical
a. Three air masses affect Pennsylvania’s weather the most. Name their air mass symbols and tell me where they come from.
2. Go to the website: http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_high_pressure.htm to find out what causes a high pressure air mass.
a. What causes an air mass to have a high pressure? Air masses being cooled down, being formed or air masses that are formed below.
3. The website http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_low_pressure.htm will help you answer the following queston:
a. What causes an air mass to have a low pressure? When the air removes the small amount of atmosphere.
4. Look at this picture: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/thermal2.GIF. Does air move from high pressure to low, or low to high? High to low.
Part 2. Global Winds
5. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/global_winds.rxml What are the Global Winds? Label B – L in the diagram below.
Part 3. Coriolis Effect
6. The Coriolis Effect affects Earth’s winds. Read the information at this website to find out about the Coriolis Effect: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/crls.rxml . The video at the bottom will give you a visual of the Coriolis Effect.
a. Click on the “Pressure Gradient” link. What is the direction of the net force between two pressure systems?
From high pressure to low pressure.
b. Click on the “High” link. What is a High Pressure Center and what does it mean? Highest relative to its surroundings, any direction from "high" will result in decreased pressure.
c. In the video, why does the ball not roll straight across the merry-go-round?
d. How is the Earth similar to the merry-go-round? (look at the figure)
e. Wind is an object that is affected by the Coriolis Effect. What happens to winds in the Northern Hemisphere as a results of the Coriolis Effect? Objects are deflected to the right, the air pressure moves from high to low.
7. Use the animation at the following website to help you find out how the Coriolis Effect affects wind: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1905/es1905page01.cfm .
a. Which way does the Coriolis Effect deflect wind in the Northern Hemisphere? Right
Part 4. Pressure Centers and Weather
8. Go to the website listed here: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wx/surface.rxml . Then, find the picture that says “Sea Level Pressure with IR satellite”. Click on this figure to bring up a new window. Click on the button that says “Aminate”. Choose “96 frames”. Answer the following questions:
a. This map shows you isobars and cloud cover. Click on the ? help to explain what an isobar is. .
b. Look at the map and find Chicago. Between which two isobars is Chicago? 1036 and 1028
c. Press “Play” on the window, and watch where the clouds travel. Do the clouds tend to be near High pressure centers (H) or Low pressure centers? Low pressure centers.
9. This website will help explain why High pressure centers usually mean good weather, and Low pressure centers usually mean bad weather: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/whighlow/whighlow.htm . Go here and read to discover why this is true, and then answer the following questions:
a. Air descends (comes down) at High pressure areas. Why does descending air not allow for clouds to form?
b. Air ascends (goes up) at Low pressure areas. Why does ascending air allow for clouds to form? It rises in areas where the surface pressure is low.
c. Use diagram to determine the direction of wind motion. What is the direction around a High pressure system? Down.
d. What is the direction around a Low pressure system? Up.
Part 5. Frontal Boundaries
10. This website will help you to understand a frontal boundary. Read the Introduction at the top and answer the following questions. http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/
a. What is a weather front? Two air masses with a different temperature and density collide, not mixing together.
11. Play the Cold front animation and read the information above to answer the questions below.
a. Which air mass is doing the pushing? The cold front.
b. What forms when the warm air gets pushed ”up” by the cold air? Clouds form.
c. What kind of clouds form at the frontal boundary? Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds form.
d. What weather is associated with this cloud type? Thunderstorms (severe) and strong winds.
12. Play the Warm Front animation and answer the questions below.
a. Which air mass is doing the pushing? The warm air mass.
b. What forms when the warm air rides “up” over the cold air? Rain, storms and clouds.
c. What kind of clouds form at this frontal boundary?
d. What kind of clouds are at the very front edge of this boundary?
13. Below you will see on the weather map the symbol for a Cold Front is a Blue line with Triangles and a Warm Front is a Red line with half-circles. Label the diagram to show where the cool, dry (cP) air mass and the warm, moist (mT) air mass is in the picture.
Along which frontal boundary will thunderstorms develop?
15. Search the internet to find out the weather map symbol for a Stationary Front and draw below.
16. Click on this website to see the Current Weather Map. http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/currentweatherusnational/index_large.html
a. Where is a Cold Front occurring?
b. Where is a Warm Front occurring?
c. What type of air mass are we currently in?
Part 1. Air Masses
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_mass Find out what an air mass is.
a. What is an airmass? An airmass is a volume of air defined water vapor content and temperature.
b. Explain the difference between a “continental(c) ” air mass, and a “maritime(m)” air mass. Continental air masses are more dry, while maritime air masses are formed over bodies of water and are much more moist.
c. Explain the difference between a “polar(P)” air mass and a “tropical(T)” air mass. Polar air masses form over high altitudes above either land or oceans. Tropical air masses have lower latitudes.
2. They describe an air mass by its Moisture content and Temperature, so each air mass has two letters. Name each air mass and describe it by moisture content and temperature.
cP = continental polar cT = continental tropical
mP = maritime polar mT = maritime tropical
a. Three air masses affect Pennsylvania’s weather the most. Name their air mass symbols and tell me where they come from.
2. Go to the website: http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_high_pressure.htm to find out what causes a high pressure air mass.
a. What causes an air mass to have a high pressure? Air masses being cooled down, being formed or air masses that are formed below.
3. The website http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_low_pressure.htm will help you answer the following queston:
a. What causes an air mass to have a low pressure? When the air removes the small amount of atmosphere.
4. Look at this picture: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/thermal2.GIF. Does air move from high pressure to low, or low to high? High to low.
Part 2. Global Winds
5. http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/global_winds.rxml What are the Global Winds? Label B – L in the diagram below.
Part 3. Coriolis Effect
6. The Coriolis Effect affects Earth’s winds. Read the information at this website to find out about the Coriolis Effect: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/crls.rxml . The video at the bottom will give you a visual of the Coriolis Effect.
a. Click on the “Pressure Gradient” link. What is the direction of the net force between two pressure systems?
From high pressure to low pressure.
b. Click on the “High” link. What is a High Pressure Center and what does it mean? Highest relative to its surroundings, any direction from "high" will result in decreased pressure.
c. In the video, why does the ball not roll straight across the merry-go-round?
d. How is the Earth similar to the merry-go-round? (look at the figure)
e. Wind is an object that is affected by the Coriolis Effect. What happens to winds in the Northern Hemisphere as a results of the Coriolis Effect? Objects are deflected to the right, the air pressure moves from high to low.
7. Use the animation at the following website to help you find out how the Coriolis Effect affects wind: http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1905/es1905page01.cfm .
a. Which way does the Coriolis Effect deflect wind in the Northern Hemisphere? Right
Part 4. Pressure Centers and Weather
8. Go to the website listed here: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wx/surface.rxml . Then, find the picture that says “Sea Level Pressure with IR satellite”. Click on this figure to bring up a new window. Click on the button that says “Aminate”. Choose “96 frames”. Answer the following questions:
a. This map shows you isobars and cloud cover. Click on the ? help to explain what an isobar is. .
b. Look at the map and find Chicago. Between which two isobars is Chicago? 1036 and 1028
c. Press “Play” on the window, and watch where the clouds travel. Do the clouds tend to be near High pressure centers (H) or Low pressure centers? Low pressure centers.
9. This website will help explain why High pressure centers usually mean good weather, and Low pressure centers usually mean bad weather: http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/whighlow/whighlow.htm . Go here and read to discover why this is true, and then answer the following questions:
a. Air descends (comes down) at High pressure areas. Why does descending air not allow for clouds to form?
b. Air ascends (goes up) at Low pressure areas. Why does ascending air allow for clouds to form? It rises in areas where the surface pressure is low.
c. Use diagram to determine the direction of wind motion. What is the direction around a High pressure system? Down.
d. What is the direction around a Low pressure system? Up.
Part 5. Frontal Boundaries
10. This website will help you to understand a frontal boundary. Read the Introduction at the top and answer the following questions. http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/
a. What is a weather front? Two air masses with a different temperature and density collide, not mixing together.
11. Play the Cold front animation and read the information above to answer the questions below.
a. Which air mass is doing the pushing? The cold front.
b. What forms when the warm air gets pushed ”up” by the cold air? Clouds form.
c. What kind of clouds form at the frontal boundary? Cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds form.
d. What weather is associated with this cloud type? Thunderstorms (severe) and strong winds.
12. Play the Warm Front animation and answer the questions below.
a. Which air mass is doing the pushing? The warm air mass.
b. What forms when the warm air rides “up” over the cold air? Rain, storms and clouds.
c. What kind of clouds form at this frontal boundary?
d. What kind of clouds are at the very front edge of this boundary?
13. Below you will see on the weather map the symbol for a Cold Front is a Blue line with Triangles and a Warm Front is a Red line with half-circles. Label the diagram to show where the cool, dry (cP) air mass and the warm, moist (mT) air mass is in the picture.
Along which frontal boundary will thunderstorms develop?
- Along which frontal boundary will all-day rain occur?
- Look at the wind arrows on the diagram, do they match the direction of motion you determined in questions 9, d? What direction is that?
15. Search the internet to find out the weather map symbol for a Stationary Front and draw below.
16. Click on this website to see the Current Weather Map. http://www.weather.com/maps/maptype/currentweatherusnational/index_large.html
a. Where is a Cold Front occurring?
b. Where is a Warm Front occurring?
c. What type of air mass are we currently in?