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
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
- Clear skies, since the air stays dry
- Warm rain, since the lakes heat the air a lot
- Snow, as the air picks up moisture from the lakes
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
- Pack rain gear for a steady soaking
- Plan an outdoor picnic, since skies should be clear
- 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: warm fronts are the ones that change weather
- Agree: fronts are drawn on maps just to fill the empty space
- 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
- Agree: weather has no usual direction across the country
- Agree: winds over the country blow from the east
- Disagree: it usually moves from west to 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: warm air holds no water
- Agree: air over a warm ocean dries out in the heat, so it is dry
- Disagree: tropical Atlantic air is cold and moist
- Disagree: it formed over water, so it is moist
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 sinks down over the cold air, so the rain falls slowly
- Warm air rises gently up a long slope, making wide cloud layers
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
- Rising air warms up as it climbs, so it dries out
- Sinking air is what makes clouds
- 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 high-pressure center turned into a low-pressure center overnight
- A warm front passed, bringing tropical air
- Nothing changed; the Sun just set
- A cold front passed, bringing continental polar air
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 hot, dry desert air mass moving in from the southwest
- A low-pressure system with clouds and rain
- A high-pressure system with clear skies
- Nothing, since pressure changes don't matter
