TES 4.1-4.2 Mod

Ferris Island

1

Like Ferris Island, Maui and the Tibetan Plateau are two places that get more rain over some parts of their landscapes than others.

In what ways do these places seem similar to Ferris Island? Compare the pictures to the picture of Ferris Island and find at least two similarities.

Redirecting Air Investigation

Background for our Model:
We’ll use a notebook (representing a mountain) and a piece of tissue paper in our model.
Remember, water vapor is in the air and where air moves, the water vapor moves with it.
Because it is difficult to observe the movement of air or water vapor with our eyes, we’ll use tissue paper to figure out where air is moving. If I blow and the tissue paper moves, I know the air is moving from my mouth to where the tissue paper is.

1

What happened to the air when a notebook was placed between the person and the tissue paper?

1

What does the model show about how water vapor molecules move when wind blows toward a mountain?

GOAL: Use the Sim to investigate how water vapor gets to different areas in the atmosphere. We’ll use landscapes in the Sim with similar bodies of water.

Go to the sim: https://apps.learning.amplify.com/earthsystem/

Reflecting on the Movement of Water Vapor

DIRECTIONS
Choose Landscape 1
In RUN, check that the Water Molecules toggle is ON.
For the Wind Direction choose RIGHT.
Observe the movement of the water vapor.
Think about which factors affect (change) the movement of water vapor.
Press ANALYZE, then replay and press on a molecule of water vapor to more closely observe its movement.

1

On landscape 1 the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

1

Where did it rain in the landscape 1?

DIRECTIONS
Choose Landscape 2
In RUN, check that the Water Molecules toggle is ON.
For the Wind Direction choose RIGHT.
Observe the movement of the water vapor.
Think about which factors affect (change) the movement of water vapor.
Press ANALYZE, then replay and press on a molecule of water vapor to more closely observe its movement.

1

On landscape the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

1

Where did it rain in the landscape 2?

1

How did the wind and the mountain move the water vapor in the atmosphere?

1

Choose the statement that best describes the movement of the water molecule that is outlined in the picture.

SIM: Investigating Rain
GOAL: Use the Sim to gather data about why one side of a mountain could get more rain than the other side, then answer the questions.

We will do this together as a class.  If you were not in class and you want to try this on your on, follow the directions below.

We will fill out this data table together in class.

1

Where did most of the rain fall, on the East side or the West side?

Let's explain why it rains more on one side of the mountain than the other side of the mountain.

1

What direction is the wind blowing?

1

What direction is the wind and mountain pushing the water vapor?

1

What is the temperature higher up in the atmosphere?

1

Condensation happens at what temperature?

1

Why is there more water vapor condensing and falling as rain on West Ferris?

Use the words: water vapor, wind, atmosphere, mountain

Sentence starter: The pushes up the , higher into the where it is colder.

The uneven pattern of rain caused by wind and mountains is called the rain shadow effect. 

The dry area on one side of the mountain is called a rain shadow.

1

What side of Ferris Island is experiencing a rain shadow (dry area on one side of the mountain) - East Ferris or West Ferris?

1

TES 4.1-4.2 Mod

Ferris Island

Like Ferris Island, Maui and the Tibetan Plateau are two places that get more rain over some parts of their landscapes than others.In what ways do these places seem similar to Ferris Island? Compare the pictures to the picture of Ferris Island and find at least two similarities.

Redirecting Air Investigation

What happened to the air when a notebook was placed between the person and the tissue paper?

What does the model show about how water vapor molecules move when wind blows toward a mountain?

Reflecting on the Movement of Water Vapor

On landscape 1 the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

Where did it rain in the landscape 1?

On landscape the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

Where did it rain in the landscape 2?

How did the wind and the mountain move the water vapor in the atmosphere?

Choose the statement that best describes the movement of the water molecule that is outlined in the picture.

SIM: Investigating Rain

Where did most of the rain fall, on the East side or the West side?

Let's explain why it rains more on one side of the mountain than the other side of the mountain.

What direction is the wind blowing?

What direction is the wind and mountain pushing the water vapor?

What is the temperature higher up in the atmosphere?

Condensation happens at what temperature?

Why is there more water vapor condensing and falling as rain on West Ferris?Use the words: water vapor, wind, atmosphere, mountainSentence starter: The ______________________ pushes ______________________ up the ______________________ , higher into the ______________________ where it is colder.

What side of Ferris Island is experiencing a rain shadow (dry area on one side of the mountain) - East Ferris or West Ferris?

Why is there less water on East Ferris?

Ferris Island

Like Ferris Island, Maui and the Tibetan Plateau are two places that get more rain over some parts of their landscapes than others.In what ways do these places seem similar to Ferris Island? Compare the pictures to the picture of Ferris Island and find at least two similarities.

Redirecting Air Investigation

What happened to the air when a notebook was placed between the person and the tissue paper?

What does the model show about how water vapor molecules move when wind blows toward a mountain?

Reflecting on the Movement of Water Vapor

On landscape 1 the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

Where did it rain in the landscape 1?

On landscape the wind is blowing from the ocean toward the mountain. Where did the water vapor move?

Where did it rain in the landscape 2?

How did the wind and the mountain move the water vapor in the atmosphere?

Choose the statement that best describes the movement of the water molecule that is outlined in the picture.

SIM: Investigating Rain

Where did most of the rain fall, on the East side or the West side?

Let's explain why it rains more on one side of the mountain than the other side of the mountain.

What direction is the wind blowing?

What direction is the wind and mountain pushing the water vapor?

What is the temperature higher up in the atmosphere?

Condensation happens at what temperature?

Why is there more water vapor condensing and falling as rain on West Ferris?Use the words: water vapor, wind, atmosphere, mountainSentence starter: The ______________________ pushes ______________________ up the ______________________ , higher into the ______________________ where it is colder.

What side of Ferris Island is experiencing a rain shadow (dry area on one side of the mountain) - East Ferris or West Ferris?

Why is there less water on East Ferris?

Like Ferris Island, Maui and the Tibetan Plateau are two places that get more rain over some parts of their landscapes than others.

In what ways do these places seem similar to Ferris Island? Compare the pictures to the picture of Ferris Island and find at least two similarities.

Why is there more water vapor condensing and falling as rain on West Ferris?

Use the words: water vapor, wind, atmosphere, mountain

Sentence starter: The pushes up the , higher into the where it is colder.

Like Ferris Island, Maui and the Tibetan Plateau are two places that get more rain over some parts of their landscapes than others.

In what ways do these places seem similar to Ferris Island? Compare the pictures to the picture of Ferris Island and find at least two similarities.

Why is there more water vapor condensing and falling as rain on West Ferris?

Use the words: water vapor, wind, atmosphere, mountain

Sentence starter: The pushes up the , higher into the where it is colder.