Air masses, fronts and the weather they bring
Grade 6 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
A cold front lies just west of St. Louis, moving east. Behind it is 45°F; ahead it is 70°F. Which forecast does Esme give St. Louis for tomorrow?
- Warm and humid the whole day, with no change
- No change, since fronts move west
- Storms as the front passes, then cooler
- Storms, then even warmer air
Map of the Great Lakes with arrows of cold air crossing open lake water toward towns on the far shore. In early winter, cold, dry air from Canada blows across the still-unfrozen Great Lakes. What does Jun forecast for towns just downwind?
- Snow, as the air picks up moisture from the lakes
- Warm rain, since the lakes heat the air a lot
- Clear skies, since the air stays dry
- No change, since air masses can't pick up water
Weather map with a large H covering the state for Saturday and Sunday. A large high-pressure system will sit over Kira's state all weekend. Which plan fits the forecast best?
- Expect a quick storm, then cooler air
- Plan an outdoor picnic, since skies should be clear
- Pack rain gear for a steady soaking
- Stay inside; heavy rain is likely
Map of the United States with an arrow labeled "usual path?" left blank. A video says weather across the United States usually moves from east to west. Milo checks NOAA. Which response is best?
- Agree: weather has no usual direction across the country
- Disagree: it usually moves from west to east
- Disagree: it usually moves north to south
- Agree: winds over the country blow from the east
Map with an air mass outlined over the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Noah's cousin says air from the tropical Atlantic Ocean must be dry because it is warm. Which response is best?
- Agree: air over a warm ocean dries out in the heat, so it is dry
- Agree: warm air holds no water
- Disagree: it formed over water, so it is moist
- Disagree: tropical Atlantic air is cold and moist
“not to scale” Pia's side view shows a cold front: X in the warm air far ahead, Y just above the front's edge, Z deep in the cold air behind. Where do tall storm clouds form?
- Z, deep in the cold air behind
- X, in the warm air far ahead
- Nowhere; the cold and warm air just blend together quietly
- Y, where warm air is pushed up steeply
Why does a warm front often bring hours of light rain instead of a quick storm? Ren studies the side view.
- Warm air rises gently up a long slope, making wide cloud layers
- Warm air sinks down over the cold air, so the rain falls slowly
- Cold air is pushed up steeply instead
- Warm fronts carry dry air, so the rain stays light
An arrow of air rising along a front, with a cloud forming higher up where it is cooler. Air rising at a front makes clouds. Which explanation of why does Tala choose?
- Sinking air is what makes clouds
- Rising air cools, and its water vapor condenses
- Rising air warms up as it climbs, so it dries out
- The front gives off smoke as it moves
Monday, 85°F (29°C), humid, wind from the south; Tuesday, 60°F (16°C), dry and clear, wind from the north. Zee's weather log: Monday was 85°F and humid with south winds. Tuesday was 60°F, dry and clear with north winds. What happened overnight?
- A warm front passed, bringing tropical air
- A cold front passed, bringing continental polar air
- Nothing changed; the Sun just set
- A high-pressure center turned into a low-pressure center overnight
Bo sees rain over Denver this morning and over Kansas City by evening. Where should the rain be tomorrow?
- Nowhere; storms stop after one day
- Over Salt Lake City, farther to the west of Denver
- Back over Denver
- Farther east, near St. Louis