Unequal Heating of the Earth

How far away is the Sun? 93 Million Miles Away!

How big is the Sun? 1,300,000 times bigger than Earth! Diameter: 110 times wider than Earth Volume: 1,300,000 times bigger than Earth

Sun’s rays come straight at Earth (parallel) because it is so big and far away from us. 1.Where do the Sun’s rays hit straight on Earth? 2.Where do the Sun’s rays hit Earth at an angle? 1.Near the Equator 2.Near the North or South Pole

3. If the blue lines represent the Sun’s rays, where should it be the hottest? Coldest? Middle temperature? Why? (Hint: think of the impact if you run straight into a wall vs. the impact at an angle)

4. Where are the oceans warmest? 5. Where are the oceans coldest? 6. Where is the air warmest? 7. Where is the air coldest?

8. How would the temperatures be different if the surface of the Earth was flat instead of rounded? Why?

Distance from the sun This makes only a VERY small difference Sun’s heat is lost as it travel’s through space. More distance = less heat

Angle of the sun’s rays upon impact cause unequal heating Direct impact 90⁰ angle all Energy absorbed 45 ⁰ angle only ½ Energy absorbed 22.5 ⁰ angle only ¼ Of energy absorbed Bigger angle of impact = more heat

Materials absorbing the energy Water – absorbs heat slowly & Loses heat slowly Land – absorbs heat quickly & loses heat quickly Think of a swimming pool surrounded by concrete: -The ground is hot and water is cold during day. -The ground is cold at night, but the water says about the same temp. as it was earlier.

Effects of Unequal heating Hot materials are less dense so they rise. Cold materials sink or stay down. Leads to winds, currents, and storms.