Lab: Physical Geography, Severe Weather & Rain Shadows | Ms. Laura Branch

Lab:  Physical Geography, Severe Weather & Rain Shadows

 

1)  On a separate piece of paper, do the following:

            _______Draw a picture of North America.

            _______Label the types of air masses that influence the weather in North America.

            _______Color a key that shows the type of weather that would result from each air mass.

            _______Color each air mass.

            _______Label 40° N Latitude, 20°N Latitude, and 5°N Latitude

                                    **Note:  5° and 20° N Latitude will not go through the United States!

            _______Draw & label the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Colorado Rockies & the Appalacians.

            _______Label Santa Maria.

            _______Draw & label the areas that have hurricanes & tornadoes.  (Add this to your key to show

                           these areas!)

            _______Draw & label the locations of the rains shadows.

 

 

2)  On the bottom of your map, draw a picture of a rain shadow.

            _______Label where the lush forests would be found.

            _______Label where the deserts would be found.

 

 

3)  Answer the following in complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.

     a)  How do hurricanes form (you may want to use the requirements to help you)?

     b) Where is tornado alley and why is it located there?

     c) Using your notes to help you, explain why Santa Maria area does not have to worry about

         hurricanes & tornadoes.

     d) What is a rain shadow? Where would the lush forests be found? Where would the deserts be

         found?  Use your notes to explain why the forests and the deserts are found where they are.  Give

         an example of 2 rain shadows in the United States.

© Laura Branch 2017