Unit 4 Lesson 2 pg

Big Idea How Do the Oceans and the Water Cycle Affect Weather?

Standard ● 4.b Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water cycle plays in weather patterns.

Language of the Discipline ● Current - a stream of water that flows like a river through the ocean ● Humidity - a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air ● Precipitation - water that falls from clouds to the Earth

The Oceans Affect Weather pg

Input ● During the summer our oceans absorb large amounts of heat. ● During the winter the oceans release the heat into the air above them. o The oceans keep the Earth’s temperatures steady. ● The oceans are heated unevenly just like the rest of the Earth.

Input ● The unevenly heated surface water of the oceans is pushed forward by wind resulting in a current. o These currents distribute heat across the planet. o They carry both warm and cold water long distances.

Surface Currents

Weather Patterns and the Water Cycle Pg

Input ● We learned that the sun drives currents in the atmosphere and oceans, but it also drives the movement of water in the water cycle. ● The water cycle moves water around the Earth. ● If the planet was not unevenly heated causing wind, the water would evaporate and rain back into the same oceans.

Input ● If the wind didn’t move water vapor, most of the rain would be at the equator (the tropics). ● Global winds move water vapor (clouds) long distances. ● This allows the tropics to lose some heat and water vapor while cooler regions gain heat and moisture.

The Water Cycle

Clouds Pg. 290

Input ● Most “weather” is actually a part of the water cycle. ● Water vapor enters the atmosphere. ● Some areas have more water vapor in the air (more humidity). ● Warm air can have more humidity than cold air.

Input ● Clouds form in air that is mostly high humidity. ● Warm air is pushed up and cools which condenses the water on to dust particles, eventually forming a cloud. ● This water returns to earth as percipitation.

Precipitation pg. 291

Input ● Light drizzle may fall from stratus clouds. ● Rain and most forms of precipitation fall from cumulonimbus clouds. ● Snow forms when water vapor turns directly into ice crystals. ● Sleet and hail form when liquid water passes through air cold enough to freeze water.

Unanswered Questions ● Ask 2 questions of your own.

Summary Write your own! You can do it!!!