Energy from the Sun
Does all the energy on Earth come from the sun? Explain
No, some comes from the core.
What do we call it when gases in the atmosphere trap some of the heat near Earth's surface, while some heat escapes into space
Greenhouse effect.
What causes wind? Explain.
Differences in air pressure cause air to move. This creates winds.
How are currents different from waves?
Ocean water is moved a great distance by currents but not by waves
How is ocean temperature related to climate?
Climates are affected by the different temperature of nearby ocean currents that warm or cool the air and land.
What type of heat transfer allows us to feel the suns warmth?
Radiation
Which has more thermal energy: a 1-kilogram block of ice or a 1-kilogram volume of water vapor? Why?
The water vapor. Gases have more energy than liquids or solids do.
How are winds named?
They are named for the direction from which they travel.
How is the direction of current rotation different in the two hemispheres?
Rotation is clockwise in the Northern Hemi and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemi.
What happens to the climate of south America during an El Nino year?
It becomes warmer because the warm tropical water from the Pacific flow east toward it.
Describe the atmosphere's role in moderating the amount of radiation necessary to sustain life on Earth.
The atmosphere allows in enough energy to sustain life, while blocking radiation that would harm life.
Explain how a pot of water could demonstrate convection.
Water near the bottom of the pot gets heated and becomes less dense, causing it to rise in the pot. Cool water at the top of the pot sinks toward the bottom. The cycle repeats.
Describe what happens to the body when cold wind blows?
Body heat is removed. Heat goes from body to wind particles, making the air feel cooler than the temperature.
Contrast El Nino and La Nina.
El Nino - occurs every 2-7 years. Winds along equator weaken and reverse and blow west to east. Allows warm water from Pacific to flow east to South America and prevents cold, deep water from moving to the surface. Last 1-2 years.
La Nina - Surface waters in the eastern Pacific are colder than normal. Stronger winds blow above Pacific causing warm water to move west. Lots of cold water rises to surface. Colder than normal winters & lots of rain in Pacific Northwest.
What happens to the climate in the Pacific Northwest and north central US during La Nina years?
There are colder than normal winters and greater precipitation because stronger than normal winds blow causing warm water to move west.
Why doesn't all of the sun's radiation reach Earth's surface?
Some radiation is reflected by clouds and particles in the atmosphere
Explain why winds do not follow a straight path. Which direction do the winds turn in each hemisphere on Earth?
This is due to the Coriolis effect. The Earth is rotating which makes winds curve. To the right in Northern Hemi, to the left in Southern Hemi.
Explain the difference between a sea breeze and a land breeze
A sea breeze is a local wind that blows from the ocean or lake. A land breeze is the flow of air from land to a body of water.
What might happen if the Global Ocean conveyor belt stopped?
Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients would not be distributed. Organisms would die in some areas.
Math Toolbox pg. 34. #2 Why did the temperature most likely decrease between November 2015 and April 2016?
The wind and ocean conditions were returning back to normal because El Nino was coming to an end.
The moon does not have an atmosphere. How does the lack of atmosphere affect the moon's surface temperature on the side of the moon that faces the sun?
Without an atmosphere, all the sun's radiation reaches the moon's surface. Therefore, the surface facing the sun if very hot.
Explain what jet streams are.
They ae bands of high-speed winds about 10km above Earth's surface. They generally blow from west to east at speeds of 200-400km/hr.
What effect does air pressure have on wind movement?
Winds move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
Turn to page. 34. Look at math toolbox question 1. Hown many degrees did water temperature rise between January and November 2015.
About 2 degrees
What factors affect surface currents and why does this matter for weather and climate?
1. global wind belts
2. unequal heats
Warm currents move away from equator and cold currents move toward it redistribute energy to keep temperatures moderate.