1. Solar Energy 6-4.7, 6-4.8

2. Solar Energy Comes from the sun Causes the atmosphere to move (wind) Can be absorbed or bounced off the atmosphere Without it, we couldn’t survive!

3. Land & Sun Land absorbs heat quickly and releases it quickly. Like when you walk on the beach: – Daytime, sand = hot!! – Night, sand = cool

4. Water & Sun Ocean (or other bodies of water) absorb A LOT of heat! Takes longer to warm up Takes longer to cool down Helps to regulate the temp of Earth’s atmosphere

5. Greenhouse Effect Earth gives off heat energy (because it absorbed solar energy) Some of this is trapped in the atmosphere Carbon dioxide & water absorb heat This acts like a blanket, keeping the heat in, warming the Earth’s surface

6. Convection Current Movement of liquid or gas Warm air is created from heat from land- it rises Air then cools down (from going up high) and sinks back down This moves heat around the Earth (creates wind)

7. Convection = uneven heating= climate zones Climate = average weather of an area over a long time Convection happens on a global scale in the atmosphere and causes global winds. These winds move weather systems and surface ocean currents in particular directions.

8. Tropical Region Tropical Region- begins at the equator and extends to about 30 degrees north & south latitude Warm, rainy, tons of vegetation

9. Temperate Region Temperate Region- extends from about 31 degrees to about 60 degrees north & south latitude Where we live! Change in seasons

10. Polar Region Polar Region-extend from about 61 degrees to about 90 north & south latitude Cold, cold!! Both North & South

13. Global wind belts Due to the spinning of Earth, the weather systems in these regions move in certain directions and the global wind belts are set up

16. Land/Sea Breezes – On a smaller scale, convection currents near bodies of water can cause local winds known as land and sea breezes. – Sea breezes = daytime: when cooler air from the sea blows to land, the cool air begins to warm and rises. It eventually rotates back out to the sea where it cools down. – Land breezes = nighttime: when cooler air from the land blows to the sea. – Remember, land heats and cools faster than water.

17. Surface Currents Surface Currents – caused by wind/convection patterns – Circulates warm and cold water – Influences weather/climate of nearby landmasses

18. Climate is related to… – to the convection regions at various latitudes, – to temperature differences between the equator and the poles, and also – to warm and cold surface ocean currents.

19. Coriolis Effect Winds curve due to Earth’s rotation Northern Hemisphere = winds curve right Southern Hemisphere = winds curve left