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?
- Storms, then even warmer air
- Warm and humid the whole day, with no change
- Storms as the front passes, then cooler
- No change, since fronts move west
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?
- Plan an outdoor picnic, since skies should be clear
- Stay inside; heavy rain is likely
- Pack rain gear for a steady soaking
- Expect a quick storm, then cooler air
Luz's friend says a cold front is just a line on a map and does not change the weather. Which response is best?
- Agree: fronts are drawn on maps just to fill the empty space
- Agree: warm fronts are the ones that change weather
- Disagree: cold fronts bring warmer air
- Disagree: it lifts warm air, often bringing storms and cooler air
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 north to south
- Disagree: it usually moves from west to east
- Agree: winds over the country blow from the east
- Agree: weather has no usual direction across the country
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
- Disagree: it formed over water, so it is moist
- Disagree: tropical Atlantic air is cold and moist
- Agree: warm air holds no water
“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?
- X, in the warm air far ahead
- Y, where warm air is pushed up steeply
- Nowhere; the cold and warm air just blend together quietly
- Z, deep in the cold air behind
Why does a warm front often bring hours of light rain instead of a quick storm? Ren studies the side view.
- Cold air is pushed up steeply instead
- Warm fronts carry dry air, so the rain stays light
- 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
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?
- Rising air cools, and its water vapor condenses
- 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
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 low-pressure system with clouds and rain
- Nothing, since pressure changes don't matter
- A hot, dry desert air mass moving in from the southwest
- A high-pressure system with clear skies
Bo sees rain over Denver this morning and over Kansas City by evening. Where should the rain be tomorrow?
- Over Salt Lake City, farther to the west of Denver
- Back over Denver
- Farther east, near St. Louis
- Nowhere; storms stop after one day