Inquiry 6.3 Reading Weather Maps

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Inquiry 6.3Reading Weather Maps

• Using the weather maps provided, what general
  observations can you make about them?
  

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• Line up you maps in chronological order.
• 1. Identify the following on your maps
• a front
• a low-pressure system
• a high-pressure system
• 2. In what direction is each system moving
  across the country?

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What causes the weather to move in this way?

• The earths rotation (counterclockwise) and winds
  (the jet stream) are responsible for the movement
  of weather in the United States to generally move
  from West to East.
• Review Student sheet 6.3

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A. What kind of weather is associated with a
high-pressure system?

• Clear skies are often associated with a
  high-pressure system.

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B. What kind of weather is associated with a
low-pressure system?

• Low-pressure areas are often associated with
  cloudy skies, precipitation, and rising air
  currents.

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C. What symbol represents a cold front?

• A blue triangle represents a cold front.
• Hint remember an icicle hanging down from a
  roof.

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What symbol represents a warm front?

• A red semicircle represents a warm front.
• Hint remember the sun over the horizon is warm.

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D. Pick one weather front on a map. What
weather is associated with it?

• Storms or changing weather are near the boundary
  (front) between air masses or in the center of
  low-pressure systems.

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D. Why are the triangles and semicircles on the
symbol for a cold and warm front facing in one
direction? What do you think the direction of
the symbol means?

• The direction of the symbol faces the directin in
  which the front is moving.

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F. How does weather move across the United
Sattes.

• Weather systems tend to move across the United
  States from West to East, often following the
  path of the jet stream.

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Why is it important to know this information?

• It can help meteorologists forecast the weather.
  By seeing where weather systems have been, they
  are better able to predict where they are going.