| The sun and atmosphere work together to | | | | vapor, and become clouds. First are the high cirrus |
| create different climates. The air masses are | | | | clouds, then come the aptly named mid level |
| moved by the changes in temperature. The | | | | followed by thick stratus clouds. Thick stratus |
| disparate temperatures on the Earth's surface are | | | | clouds are the ones that sometimes cause rain |
| caused by the different proximity of these areas | | | | and wind conditions. |
| to the sun. The equator is near the sun on the | | | | When a cold front hits a warm air mass, the |
| Earth's entire orbit. | | | | result can be more volatile. Convection occurs |
| This means that the surface on the Earth at the | | | | when the cold front sharply pushes the unstable |
| equator is hot, sunny and has many hours of | | | | warm air up. These winds create cumulus clouds |
| daylight. The poles are the farthest from the sun | | | | and these clouds bring the thunderstorms. The |
| and are the coldest and darkest areas of the | | | | upward motion also creates low pressure |
| planet when it is winter and sunny but still cold in | | | | situations that make the wind blow harder. Along |
| what is considered summer there. The farther | | | | the cold air in front there will be the actual hard |
| from the equator you get, the more seasonal the | | | | rain and sharp wind. The air behind it that has |
| climates become. The climates in the middle of | | | | warmed a bit will simply bring rain. If the cold air |
| the equators and poles at what are called the | | | | takes over the warm air slowly, it becomes an |
| middle latitudes are four season climates. | | | | occluded front and stratus clouds with light |
| The air moves in masses caused by these | | | | precipitation result. Stationary fronts occur when |
| irregular heating patterns and the boundaries | | | | two very weak fronts meet and neither takes |
| between them are called fronts. The atmosphere | | | | over the other. They simply sit and rain on the |
| is constantly moving the air around in an attempt | | | | area until all of the air warms up or cools down |
| to gain equilibrium, or equalized pressure between | | | | and progresses on as a cold or warm front. |
| the warm and cool air. Air that moves also hits | | | | The oceanic regions of the Earth encompass 70% |
| stable air and all the molecules mix together. | | | | of the surface area. Climates in coastal areas are |
| When the cold air moves into warm air, it is called | | | | affected by the temperature of the seas, as |
| a cold front; a warm front comes from the | | | | saltwater is a very good conductor of both hot |
| opposite motion of warm air into cold. | | | | and cold temperatures. Great Britain is much |
| Warm fronts rise above and on top of cold air. | | | | warmer than most of the other land in its same |
| As the warm air cools the molecules form water | | | | latitude because of the warm Gulf Stream. |