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Moving Air Masses

Learner Outcomes

By completing this lesson, the learner will:

• Summarize current national radar, cloud cover, temperature, dewpoint, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and moisture convergence variables.
• Use image analysis techniques to measure the size and speed of an identifiable air mass.
• Create a "movie" of daily satellite images demonstrating rotation and movement of an air mass.
• Synthesize influential weather variables to describe dynamic weather systems.
• Utilize GifConverter and NIH Image (Mac) or Paint Shop Pro and Scion Image (PC) software packages.

Exploration

• First, view today's national radar map and summarize weather around the country.
• Next, view the current four-panel weather maps. What do each of the maps represent? How are they alike and different from the national radar map?
• Finally, view the current satellite image. What are the dominant patterns and systems you can see? What time was the image taken?

Experiment

1. Use NIH image to measure: area, perimeter, diameter, and speed of an air mass (directions found under Resources "step by step").
2. Put 5 daily images together of a local air mass and make "movie" using NIH image (directions found under Resources "step by step")
3. Use the following internet sites to obtain data for subsequent items.


This link will provide numerous resources to investigate.

1. Use the GOES 7 satellite images to investigate the following:
1. Visible Image
2. Infrared Image
3. IR Enhanced
4. Water Vapor Image
4. Put 5 daily images together of world air masses and make a "movie" using NIH image to demonstrate movement. Use the following internet site to obtain data for this part. Full Earth Satellite Image
5. Put 5 daily surface weather maps together (for the same days investigated in parts 1 & 2 above) to show the affect of air masses on the surface conditions.

1. Surface conditions below air masses:
US Surface Data Plot

Data Plot Legend

2. Surface conditions surrounding air masses:
US Temperatures
3. Weather maps that include wind speed and direction and air pressure:
US Surface Data Plot

Extensions

1. Students should locate air masses using temperature and humidity to define the boundaries of the large volume of air.
2. Predict the modification of the air mass from surface conditions the air mass traverses.
3. Track the movement of air masses and any associated storms.