Friday 2/14 – Inv. Science Warm-up 1. In what direction does the Earth rotate? (think sunrise and sunset) 2. What is the degree we tilt at? 3. What was the range of tilt? 4. What was the highest storm surge that hit during Hurricane Katrina? 5. What percentage of New Orleans was flooded? Learning Goal Explain what causes climate and how human and natural activities have changed the Earth’s climate. Agenda Finish Katrina movie Coriolis Effect and Ocean Currents notes

Thursday 2/20 – Inv. Science Warm-up 1. Where on the planet where the most direct sunlight occur? New lab groups, so don’t get comfy!!! Learning Goal Explain what causes climate and how human and natural activities have changed the Earth’s climate. Agenda Review Coriolis Effect and Ocean Currents notes Convection Currents activity Ocean currents Map Review Guide Carbon Cycle

Coriolis Effect and Ocean Currents

The Coriolis Effect The earth's eastward rotation creates an apparent force called the "Coriolis force" that deflects moving air to the right of its initial direction in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left of its initial direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

The apparent curving of air and water in relation to the surface of earth is because of earth’s rotation.

In the Northern Hemisphere water and air spin in a clockwise direction (to the right) from the North Pole. In the Southern Hemisphere water and air spin in a counterclockwise direction (to the left) from the South Pole.

The Coriolis deflection is therefore related to the motion of the object (air and water), the motion of the Earth, and the latitude. Example: If a cannon were fired toward a target at the Equator from the North Pole, the projectile would land to the right of its true path. In this case, the target area would have moved eastward (because of the earth’s rotation) before the shell reached the ground.

This image shows Myrtle Beach, SC the intended location but Dallas, TX is the location of contact due to the Coriolis effect. Coriolis Demo

Ocean Currents The world's oceans travel in well-defined circular patterns called currents, which flow like rivers. Winds, continents, temperature differences, and the Coriolis effect make currents flow around the oceans in huge loops called gyres that move large amounts of water great distances on a global scale.

Notice the warm Gulf Stream that runs north along the East Coast of North America and cool the N. Pacific current California coast.

Of the countless currents that circulate the Earth, two have a direct effect on the United States – the California Current and the Gulf Stream. The warm Gulf Stream usually travels north at a speed of 3 or 4 knots off the eastern coast of Florida and eastern U. S. coast. The image right shows the warm current of the Gulf Stream which effects the East Coast’s climate.

The warm Gulf Stream current effects the climate and warmed the East Coast of the U.S. The reason for this, like the lab on heating sand/water, water (oceans) has a higher heat capacity than sand (land) and keeps in heat longer than sand. Another view of warm/cool currents in the oceans of the world.

A Change in Earth’s Tilt What would happen if the Earth’s tilt changed? What would the seasons be warmer or cooler if the tilt was less than 23.5 degrees?

According to scientists, the Earth’s axis has varied between 20.5 and 24.5 degrees during a cycle of 41,000 years. Earth's tilt is currently 23.5 degrees and decreasing. Without the much more rapid anthropogenic or human influences on climate, Earth would probably be slowly moving toward glaciation. If the tilt increased, so does the annual average sunlight reaching high latitudes, and these are conditions would find glaciations ending.

Monday 2/24 – Inv. Science Warm-up 1. Is the current that moves down the California coast a warm current or cold current? Learning Goal Explain what causes climate and how human and natural activities have changed the Earth’s climate. Agenda Seasons and Coriolis Quiz Carbon Cycle Reading and Color Sheet

Carbon Cycle directions Read through the reading section. As you read use a highlighter/marker or pencil to highlight the author’s main points. On either a separate sheet of paper, or at the bottom of the reading answer the following questions: 1. What are the macronutrients in the biosphere? 2. What is a biogeochemical cycle? 3. How does carbon get from the atmosphere to the biosphere? 4. Which part of the cycle do humans have the most influence on? Why? 5. Explain why is the process called a cycle. Color code the cycle.