Lesson 11: Weather Systems

March 4, 2024

Review:

Presentation:

Weather Maps
- How to Read a Weather Map
- Synoptic Chart Intro Video (UK Met Office, 04:09)
- World Weather Forecasts (Meteorological Service Singapore)
Air Mass Formation
- Maritime (moist) or Continental (dry)
- Polar (cold), Tropical or Equatorial (warm)
Fronts
- Cold Front – colder, denser air moving into warm air and forcing it to rise
- Warm Front – warm, low pressure air moving over cold air
- Both create conditions for cloud formation and precipitation
  - Cold Front more likely to create thunderstorms
  - Warm Front more likely to lead to showers
- Occluded Front – when a Cold Front overtakes a Warm Front
- Stationary Front – when a Cold or Warm front stalls
- Video (Pilot Institute, 04:37)
Low and High Pressure Systems
- Cyclones
  - Low Pressure systems (L)
  - Air is converging and moving upward
  - Leads to adiabatic cooling, cloud formation and precipitation
- Anti-Cyclones
  - High Pressure systems (H)
  - Air is diverging and moving downward
  - Leads to fair weather and clear skies
- Video (Pilot Institute, 04:42)
Tropical Cyclones
- Hurricanes (Western Hemisphere)
- Typhoons (Asia Pacific)
- Cyclones (Indian Ocean)
- Tropical Cyclone Warning System (Meteorological Service Singapore)
- Hurricanes 101 (National Geographic, 02:57)
Chapter 06 Slides

Activity:

Create a Climograph
- Template provided
- Use the World Weather Forecasts (Meteorological Service Singapore)
- Select 2 locations with available climate data (e.g., Singapore & Moscow or Delhi & Denver)
- Construct a Climograph with the data available
Print name, ENSO topic and research partner name (if applicable)

Assignment:

Justin