Weather Basics
This is the main source of energy that powers Earth’s weather.
The Sun
Air moves from areas of _____ pressure to areas of _____ pressure.
High to low
This type of front forms when cold air pushes under warm air.
Cold front
During the daytime, a sea breeze moves from the _____ to the _____.
Sea/ocean to land
Surface currents are mostly driven by this.
Wind
This process occurs when water vapor cools and forms clouds.
Condensation
This type of pressure is usually connected to clear skies.
High pressure
This front usually brings light rain and clouds over a longer period of time.
Warm front
Land heats up and cools down _____ than water.
Faster
Deep ocean currents are driven by differences in this property.
Density
Meteorologists study this to predict upcoming weather conditions.
Weather patterns/data
Cold air sinks because it is more ____.
Dense
This front occurs when two air masses stop moving.
Stationary front
At night, colder, denser air forms over the land creating this type of pressure.
High pressure
These are the two factors that affect ocean density.
Temperature and salinity
This process happens when water changes from liquid to gas.
Evaporation
This type of pressure is commonly associated with clouds and precipitation.
Low Pressure
In the United States, weather systems usually travel in this direction.
West to East
At night, this type of breeze moves from land toward the ocean.
Land breeze
This current brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico toward Massachusetts.
Gulf Stream
This type of current forms when warm material rises and cool material sinks.
Convection current
This usually happens to air pressure when warm air rises.
Low pressure forms
A cold front moving toward Massachusetts would most likely bring these two weather changes.
Cooler temperatures and precipitation/storms
Most of Earth’s thermal energy is stored in the ____.
Ocean
This is the name of the global circulation pattern of ocean currents.
Great Ocean Conveyor Belt