Thermal Energy and Weather It’s not just about temperature

WEATHER Air Pressure Humidity Wind Cloud Cover Precipitation The conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time and place Conditions include: Air Pressure Humidity Wind Cloud Cover Precipitation AND Temperature

TEMPERATURE A measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance. All matter, whether a solid liquid or gas, is made up of molecules in motion.

Temperature can be measured using:

Thermal energy is the total amount of kinetic energy of all of the molecules that make up an object or substance. So thermal energy is dependent on both: Kinetic energy of the particles The number of particles (mass)

Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from one object to another Heat always moves from a warmer object or substance to a cooler one (from particles with more kinetic energy to particles that have less) Once all particles have the same kinetic energy, thermal equilibrium is reached and transfer of energy stops.

Thermal Energy transfer happens three ways Conduction The transfer of energy from one part of a material to another or between two objects that are in physical contact with each other

Conductors Materials through which heat transfer occurs easily

Materials that hinder the transfer of thermal energy Insulators Materials that hinder the transfer of thermal energy Period 5 ended here 3/29

Thermal Energy transfer happens three ways Radiation Transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves

Thermal Energy transfer happens three ways Convection The transfer of energy caused by the circulation of matter due to differences in density

The troposphere is warmed by all three methods of transfer Some of the sunlight that reaches earth’s surfaces is absorbed, increasing the kinetic energy of the molecules that make up those surface materials Radiation

These warmed molecules emit infrared radiation which can then be absorbed by the air molecules

Air molecules that contact these surfaces gain kinetic energy as some of the energy gets transferred to them Conduction

Air molecules that have gained kinetic energy from the surface molecules bump into each other more frequently and spread apart making the air less dense. The warmer, less dense air rises through the cooler, surrounding air Convection