Unit 3, Lesson 7

Weather fronts act as the forces that push high and low pressure systems around all over the country and all over the globe. These high and low pressure systems are called air masses, and they can either be warm and dry and nice or cold and snowy and miserable. They are called cold fronts and warm fronts and bring with themselves unique traits--and densities. The density of a cold front is greater than that of a warm front because of the expansion of gases in warm fronts that cause them to rise above cold fronts. Sometimes, these two air masses meet and clouds form, dropping precipitation. We often hear about tornadoes forming in areas where cold fronts and warm fronts collide. Cold fronts tend to spit out precipitation in violent bursts whereas a warm front might only drop a slight drizzle over a region. Almost always, the location of an air mass is also the location of cloud cover and high/low pressure.

Problems:

4.) A cold front is approaching your town, expected to arrive tomorrow. What kind of weather can you expect? The cold front will most likely cause a drop in temperature, thicker clouds, and the potential for either a lot of drenching rain or a lot of snow. I'd best set out my beanie!

5.) A warm front is approaching your town, expected to arrive tomorrow. What kind of weather can you expect? I might prepare for an increase in temperature, perhaps slight rain, and possible cloud cover. If clouds do form, they might be light and airy rather than thick and clumpy and overcast.