Date: 07.10.2020
Topic: Meteorology.
Teacher: During this lesson we are going to speak about meteorology as a science.
Teacher: What associations come to your mind when you hear the word “weather”? Describe
your ideal weather. What do you like to do when the weather is bad?
Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences which
includes atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics, with a major focus
on weather forecasting.
Meteorological phenomena are observable weather events that are explained by
the science of meteorology. Meteorological phenomena are described and
quantified by the variables of Earth's atmosphere: temperature, air pressure, water vapour, mass flow, and the
variations and interactions of those variables, and how they change over time.
Different spatial scales are used to describe and predict weather on local,
regional, and global levels. Meteorology, climatology,
atmospheric physics, and atmospheric chemistry are sub-disciplines of the
atmospheric sciences.
Teacher: Before reading the text, look through some unknown words to you.
Evaporation – випаровування
Precipitation – опади, випадання опадів
To hover –
нависати
Humidity – вологість
Mid-latitude cyclonic storms – циклонічні бурі середньої широти
To converge – сходитися, зводити в одну
точку
Towering clouds –
височенні хмари
Transition zone – перехідна зона
Exercise 1. Write down the above words to their definitions and
fill them in the sentences.
1. To
come together from different places to meet at one point.
2. Transforming
from a liquid into a gas.
3. To
remain near a place or individual.
4. Extremely
tall, especially when compared to surrounding things.
5. Concentration
of water vapor present in the air.
6. Water
that falls to the earth, especially in the form of rain or snow.
Sentences:
1. The
most ________ occurs in the spring months where it can rain several times a
week.
2. Once
the enemy city was surrounded on all sides, the commander of the surrounding
force ordered them to slowly ________ on the settlement.
3. The
cups were kept in a plastic tray lined with moistened filter paper to maintain
________ .
4. Looking
up at the ________ skyscrapers, the tourists were amazed by the lofty
high-rises.
5. If
you water your garden during the hottest hours of the day, ________ will reduce
the amount of liquid the plants receive.
6. According
to legends, the ghost of a murdered victim will sometimes ________ around his
killer.
Read the text “Factors that Influence Weather”.
There are many
factors that influence weather, many of which we cannot see.
The Water Cycle: As the sun warms the surface of the Earth, water rises
in the form of water vapor from lakes, rivers, oceans, plants, the ground, and
other sources. This process is called evaporation. Water vapor provides the moisture that forms clouds; it eventually
returns to Earth in the form of precipitation, and the cycle continues.
Air Masses: When air hovers for a while over a surface area with uniform humidity and temperature, it takes on the characteristics of the area below. For example, an air mass over the tropical Atlantic Ocean would become warm and humid; an air mass over the winter snow and ice of northern Canada would become cold and dry. These massive volumes of air often cover thousands of miles and reach to the stratosphere. Overtime, mid-latitude cyclonic storms and global wind patterns move them to locations far from their source regions.
What happens when 2 air masses meet? The cold air pushes the hot air upwards, when going up the temperature drops and the air can't hold as much water when it is warm, so the cold water molecules condense and form clouds.
Jet Stream: A jet stream is the name given to the area of air
above where two air masses of different temperature converge e.g. a cold front
meeting a warm front. The greater the temperature difference between the air
masses, the greater the air pressure difference, and the faster the wind blows
in the jet stream. This river of air has wind speeds which often exceed 100 mph,
and sometimes over 200 mph. Jet streams more commonly form in the winter, when
there is a greater difference between the temperature of the cold continental
air masses and warm oceanic air masses. This
meandering current of high-speed wind, a jet stream is usually found around
five to ten miles above Earth’s surface.
Weather Fronts: The transition zone between two air masses of
different humidity and temperature is called a front. Along a cold front, cold
air displaces warm air; along a warm front, warm air displaces cold air. When
neither air mass displaces the other, a stationary front develops. Towering
clouds and intense storms may form along cold fronts, while widespread clouds
and rain, snow, sleet, or drizzle may accompany warm fronts.
Exercise 2. Fill in the gaps.
1.
Water
________ provides the moisture that forms clouds.
2.
When
air hovers for a while over a surface area with uniform ________ and
temperature, it takes on the characteristics of the area below.
3.
The
massive volumes of air often cover thousands of miles and reach to the ________
.
4.
The
place where two air masses of different temperature converge is a ________ .
5.
Jet
streams more commonly form in the winter, when there is a greater difference
between the temperature of the cold ________ air masses and warm ________ air
masses.
6.
A
________ is the transition zone between two air masses of different humidity
and temperature.
7.
Towering
clouds and intense storms may form along ________ fronts.
8.
Widespread
clouds and rain, snow, sleet, or drizzle may accompany ________ fronts.
Homework: Read the text, do the exercises and send your answers
through my e-mail (elenakozak90@gmail.com)