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?
- No change, since fronts move west
- Storms, then even warmer air
- Warm and humid the whole day, with no change
- Storms as the front passes, then cooler
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?
- No change, since air masses can't pick up water
- 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
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?
- Stay inside; heavy rain is likely
- Expect a quick storm, then cooler air
- Plan an outdoor picnic, since skies should be clear
- Pack rain gear for a steady soaking
Luz's friend says a cold front is just a line on a map and does not change the weather. Which response is best?
- Disagree: cold fronts bring warmer air
- Disagree: it lifts warm air, often bringing storms and cooler air
- Agree: fronts are drawn on maps just to fill the empty space
- Agree: warm fronts are the ones that change weather
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?
- Disagree: it usually moves from west to east
- Disagree: it usually moves north to south
- Agree: weather has no usual direction across the country
- 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
- Nowhere; the cold and warm air just blend together quietly
- Y, where warm air is pushed up steeply
- X, in the warm air far ahead
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
- The front gives off smoke as it moves
- Rising air warms up as it climbs, so it dries out
- Rising air cools, and its water vapor condenses
Air pressure falling over 2 days, with cloud drawings thickening along the top. For two days, the air pressure at Ari's school falls and the clouds thicken. What is most likely coming?
- A high-pressure system with clear skies
- A hot, dry desert air mass moving in from the southwest
- Nothing, since pressure changes don't matter
- A low-pressure system with clouds and rain
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
- Back over Denver
- Over Salt Lake City, farther to the west of Denver
- Farther east, near St. Louis