Physical Science Activity

Global air circulation II.

Objectives:

• Interpret warm fronts and cold fronts
• Examine cyclones and anticyclones in both hemispheres using the Internet

Procedure:

1. Load surface map showing Lows, Highs, and weather fronts.
2. Explain warm front using the atmospheric profile.
3. Explain a cold front using the atmospheric profile.
4. Indicate how fronts are associated with cyclones.
5. Draw the air circulation around a cyclone for the northern hemisphere
6. Draw the air circulation around an anti-cyclone for the northern hemisphere
7. Load various infrared satelite images and animate the images and look for cyclones and anticlones in N. America.
8. Repeat the process for the southern hemisphere.
9. Equatoral zone: Do you expect any Coriolis effect on the equator?  Why or why not?
10. Look at the satelite images which include the equator in animated mode.  What do you see?  Can you explain?