Atmosphere The layer of gasses surrounding the Earth Held close to the Earth’s surface by Gravity How does the atmosphere help sustain life on earth?

Lithosphere The outer solid part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Hydrosphere The liquid water component of the Earth. It includes the oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

Biosphere The living organisms and their environment.

Climate The usual weather conditions that occur in a particular area.

What causes wind? The uneven heating and cooling of the Earth’s surface. What is the major source of energy for wind? The sun

What heats up faster land or water? Land Why? The lithosphere is more dense, it is a better conductor of energy.

What cools down faster land or water? Land Why? The lithosphere is more dense, it is a better conductor of energy.

Uneven heating causes pressure differences Warmer air rises Why? Less dense Would it cause a high or low pressure on the surface? Low

Cooler air sinks Why? More dense Would it cause a high or low pressure on the surface High

What type of heat energy transfer is taking place in the atmosphere? Convection Atmospheric currents transfer heat energy around the Earth.

Pressure differences will try to equalize High pressure areas will always go to low pressure areas. This movement causes air currents.

Where are great temperature differences found on Earth? The poles and the equator.

Why doesn’t the wind blow from the north all of the time? The earth rotates on its axis.

The Coriolis Effect The apparent curvature of global winds, ocean currents, and everything else that moves freely across the Earth's surface. Video The curving of the global winds due to the rotation of the Earth.

These global wind patterns influence weather and climate What global wind has the greatest influence on the weather in the U.S.? The Westerlies

Side note Winds are named from where the blow from.

These global wind patterns influence weather and climate At locations 30⁰ above and below the equator where the high pressure areas are located is where most of the worlds deserts are found. High pressure (cooler air sinking) areas generally indicate clear skies. At the equator where there is low pressure (warm air rising), most of the rainforest are found.

The Jetstream A high narrow band of fast moving air.

The Jetstream Responsible for transporting weather systems that effect us.

Atmospheric currents transfer heat energy around the earth.

Topography also influences climate Near a large body of water More water vapor in the air, greater chance for precipitation. Near mountains More precipitation on the windward side of the mountain.

Weather is ultimately caused by temperature differences due to variations in solar energy input. These temperature differences cause pressure variations in the atmosphere. The wind blows to try and correct these imbalances in pressure. Regions of low and high pressure moving through an area cause changes in weather as different air masses pass by.