Tuesday+2-25-14

Hi, All! Hope you had a fantastic break - skiing, sunning, getting some well-deserved R&R at home.....& now it's back to the grindstone. Interesting movie choice yesterday, I trust, to get you back into the swing of things -! Today your mission will be to take what you've read thus far in your book and what we've discussed in class and apply your newly-found knowledge as follows:

Go to the NASA website @http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT THIS LINK (it's an excellent big-picture satellite view of the weather patterns - temperature & clouds - from 16 through 25 Feb) to help you answer the questions below: @http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/satellite/ssec/world/world-composite-ir-sat.html

After looking at the satellite images provided through the NASA & El Dorado Weather link, answer the following 2-part set of questions (//in paragraph format to the best of your ability, please//). Note that you'll need to do some research of your own to formulate an answer to Part 2.

(1) What are a few observations that you can make regarding the patterns of cloud movement? Explain what you see in the Northern Hemisphere & the Southern Hemisphere. Anything different when you get to the poles? How about at the equator? Based on what we discussed in class about the Coriolis Force and what you've read in your text about the effects of friction and pressure differences on wind, explain why you think the wind patterns are what they are across these parts of the globe. Pull out the questions you answered for Section 19.2 - you can use this website to help you think a bit more about question 5, in particular.

(2) Using current, legitimate online resources (such as NASA, NOAA, the El Dorado link above, etc. - wunderground.com is okay, too) tell me about the jet stream and the polar vortex (as they relate to what's happening in N. America)! What is the jet stream? What is the polar vortex? Anything to do with wind patterns....? Explain. Are the two related? Why might both be significant to weather (patterns) that we're experiencing/have experienced this winter? //Keep track of your resources!// Finally - what's the forecast for the next few days.....any fun snow days on the horizon as we make our way towards spring.....?

Assuming I see you tomorrow, we'll be discussing this assignment, so make sure it's complete and ready to hand in by class time.

Hope to see you all tomorrow. Be well! - Ms. Latham