2. Unit 8: Climatic Interactions

3. In this Unit we will discover the role that solar, weather, and ocean systems play in maintaining the environment in which we live.

4. Solar Effects on Environment

5. The Sun’s Energy: TEKS 8.10A How do Hawks fly? ◦ Convection in Earth’s Atmosphere Hawks use convection to soar. They are lifted higher in the sky by rising currents of warm air.

6. Think about how the tectonic plates move… What is the energy source that drives heat transfer in the atmosphere? in the oceans? What is this movement called? Writing Prompt: How are convection currents in the mantle similar to convection currents in the atmosphere and oceans? 3 minutes Click!

7. Density/convection current demo video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN7E6FCuMbY

8. The Sun heats the Earth's surface. The air that is near the surface begins to get warmer. As the air gets warmer, the air molecules move further away from each other. Cold Air Molecules are close together. They are more dense and heavier. Warm Air Molecules are spread apart. They are less dense and light.

9. The Sun’s Energy: TEKS 8.10A Main Idea 1 The energy on Earth comes from the Sun, which heats up Earth’s surface and all things on it. Matter that absorbs heat energy tends to rise, and matter that loses heat energy tends to fall. This constant rising and falling of hot and cold is called convection.

10. Have you ever been at the beach during the day and had the wind right in your face as you looked towards the ocean/lake? (click) Have you ever noticed that the wind at night blows out towards the ocean/lake? (click) How is this possible? Based on what you’ve experienced, draw in one picture what needs to happen for the wind to blow into your face during the day and draw another showing what needs to happen in order to have the wind blow out to the ocean/lake. Think heat transfer! Have you ever been at the beach during the day and had the wind right in your face as you looked towards the ocean/lake? (click) Have you ever noticed that the wind at night blows out towards the ocean/lake? (click) How is this possible? Based on what you’ve experienced, draw in one picture what needs to happen for the wind to blow into your face during the day and draw another showing what needs to happen in order to have the wind blow out to the ocean/lake. Think heat transfer! Using the Sea Breeze and Land Breeze pictures, show convection circulation by coloring the arrows blue for cool and red for warm. Paste the pictures in your ISN. 7 minutes Click! Stuck for an answer?

11. Animation of Sea and Land Breezes click

12. The Sun’s Energy: TEKS 8.10A Water, heated by the Sun’s energy, warms and cools more slowly than the land Convection near coastlines

13. Sea Breezes Land Breezes Convection Currents

14. Now it is time to complete your exit ticket. Trade Winds What scientific explanation could you come up with to explain why trade winds move from the poles towards the equator?