Energy Transfer & Convection
True or False: Cold air rises.
False
An air mass forms over northern Canada during winter. The land is frozen and dry.
cP (continental polar)
An air mass has the same
__________________ and moisture
content throughout.
temperature
The two types of ocean currents are
surface and deep
what are the degrees on earth
0, 30, 60, 90
Which unequal heating condition causes a sea breeze to develop during the day?
Warmer air over land than water
An air mass forms over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and moves toward the southeastern United States bringing humid conditions.
mT (maritime tropical)
what is the jet stream?
fast-moving band of air high in the atmosphere that helps move storms and weather across the planet.
Earth’s _____ causes ocean currents in
the Northern Hemisphere to curve
clockwise.
spinning on its axis
what are all the convection current cells
hadley ferrell polar
Warm air near Earth’s surface rises, cools, and then sinks. This continuous movement of air forms a
Convection current
An air mass forms over the hot deserts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Desert Southwest → cT (continental tropical)
where is the warm air and cold air adjacent to the jet stream?
Warm air is on the south side of the jet stream (closer to the equator).
Cold air is on the north side of the jet stream (closer to the poles).
When a current comes into contact
with a continent or landmass it
changes direction.
how is sun thermal energy dispersed on earth
equator is warmest then over 30 degrees warm and the poles are cold
what is the process of gasses such as water vapor hold energy from the atmosphere to keep earth warm?
the greenhouse effect
An air mass forms over the cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean near Alaska.
North Pacific near Alaska → mP (maritime polar)
what are global wind patterns name the 3 patterns what are local wind patterns name the 2 patterns?
Global wind patterns are large wind systems that move air around the entire planet. These winds blow in predictable directions over long distances.
Examples of global winds:
Trade Winds
Westerlies
Polar Easterlies
Local wind patterns are smaller winds that occur over short distances and are caused by temperature differences in a specific area.
Examples of local winds:
Sea breeze (daytime wind from water → land)
Land breeze (night wind from land → water)
The horizontal movement of ocean
water that is caused by wind and
the Coriolis Effect.
surface currents
what is a front?
A front is the boundary where two different air masses meet.
Explain how unequal heating of Earth creates global wind patterns. Where is the warmest part of earth and coldest parts?
Earth is heated unevenly because the Sun’s energy hits different parts of the planet at different angles. The equator receives the most direct sunlight, so it is the warmest region. Warm air near the equator heats up, becomes less dense, and rises. As this air rises and moves away from the equator, it cools and eventually sinks at higher latitudes.
An air mass forms over the Arctic region near the North Pole, where the ground is covered in ice and snow year-round. Temperatures are extremely cold and the air contains very little moisture.
cA – Continental Arctic
what is the Coriolis effect what is the movements of wind in the northern and southern hemisphere due to this effect?
bending of moving air and water caused by Earth rotating on its axis.
In the Northern Hemisphere, wind curves to the right.
In the Southern Hemisphere, wind curves to the left.
The _____ is a system of constantly
moving ocean circulation driven by
temperature and salinity.
Global Conveyor Belt
Where are Hadley, Ferrell, and Polar cells located by degrees? where are the global winds located within these cells
Hadley Cell trade winds
0° – 30°
Ferrel Cell prevailing westerlies
30° – 60°
Polar Cell polar easterlies
60° – 90°