The Uneven Heating of
Land and Water
Land heats up and cools
down faster than water.
Only the top few molecules of sand are heated and
solids do not move. Molecules in water are free to
move so more of the contents of the cup are heated.
Light penetrates deeper in water; up to 100m.
Water absorbs a lot of heat BEFORE changing
temperature. Once heated, water changes temperature
very slowly, while soil changes heat very quickly. Water
has a high specific heat : 1 cal/goC
The uneven heating of land and water creates wind.
SOURCE AREAS
are where our weather originates.
In the Flathead Valley
we are influenced by
cold air masses from
the North, Pacific air
masses from the west
and Continental tropic
air masses from the
Southwest.
Source Areas for Air Masses