1. Earth’s Atmosphere
Chapter 9

2. Earth’s Atmosphere Main Ideas Lesson 1: Energy from the Sun
The Sun is the major source of energy for Earth
Lesson 2: Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere distributes thermal energy.
Lesson 3: Air Currents
Solar energy is responsible for the continuous movement of air in the troposphere, which transports and distributes thermal energy around Earth.

3. Earth’s Atmosphere So What?!
The Sun’s energy and Earth’s atmosphere are critical for creating the conditions needed for life on Earth.

4. Energy from the Sun Chapter 9, Lesson 1
Earth’s Atmosphere
Energy from the Sun
Chapter 9, Lesson 1

5. The heat from the Sun helps keep Earth’s surface warm.
What You’ll Learn:
Identify some of the differences between layers of the atmosphere.
Describe how solar radiation reaches Earth’s surface.
Understand that solar radiation has its maximum in the range of visible light.
Explain why the sky looks blue.
Identify the Sun as a constant and almost uniform source of energy for Earth.
So What?
The heat from the Sun helps keep Earth’s surface warm.

6. Vocabulary
Use your book to locate the definitions for the Review Vocabulary, New Vocabulary, and Academic Vocabulary words on page 94 of your Science Notebook.

7. Earth’s Atmosphere Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere Nitrogen 78%
Identify the main components of the atmosphere and list their percentages.
Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere
Nitrogen
78%
Oxygen
21%
Particles, Water vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone: 1%

8. Layers in the Atmosphere
Identify the locations of the four layers of the atmosphere. Describe the properties of each layer.
__________________________________
___________________________________________
thermosphere
No defined upper limit
mesosphere
Increasing air temperature with altitude
stratosphere
troposphere
Holds most of Earth’s air
Earth’s Surface

9. Summarize the main ideas of the above sections in two bullet points.
Summarize It!
Summarize the main ideas of the above sections in two bullet points.

10. The Sun’s Continuous Spectrum
Define electromagnetic spectrum. List the 3 types of electromagnetic radiation that make up 99% of solar radiation.
Electromagnetic spectrum:
Solar radiation consists of: 1. 2. 3.
The entire range of wavelength or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
Ultraviolet light
Visible light
Infrared radiation

11. *Longer wavelength than visible light *Felt as heat
The Sun’s Continuous Spectrum
Compare and Contrast infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
*Longer wavelength than visible light
*Felt as heat
*Shorter wavelength than visible light
*Causes skin to tan or burn
Infrared Radiation
Ultraviolet Radiation
Invisible to humans

12. Summarize three main ideas of the above section.
Summarize It!
Summarize three main ideas of the above section.

13. The Sun’s Continuous Spectrum
Model what happens to the Sun’s radiation that strikes Earth’s atmosphere.
Be sure to indicate the following statistics...

14. The Sun’s Power
Summarize how the angle at which the sun’s radiation strikes Earth affects temperatures.
When a beam of sunlight reaching Earth is almost perpendicular to the surface, as occurs near the equator, the beam is concentrated over a small area and temperatures are warmer. When sunlight strikes Earth’s surface at a low angle, as occurs at the poles, the radiation is spread out over a larger area.

15. Create a concept map about the importance of solar energy on Earth.
The Sun’s Power
Create a concept map about the importance of solar energy on Earth.
Solar Energy
Provides Light
Visible Light
Infrared Radiation
Ultraviolet Light
Warms Air & Land @ Earth’s surface
Powers Water Cycle
Powers Photosynthesis in Living Organisms
Forms the Base of the Food Chain

16. Summarize two main ideas of the above section.
Summarize It!
Summarize two main ideas of the above section.

17. Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere Chapter 9, Lesson 2
Earth’s Atmosphere
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
Chapter 9, Lesson 2

18. What You’ll Learn: So What?
Describe how the air is heated from the lower layers of the atmosphere.
Explain why hot air rises and cold air sinks.
Distinguish the properties of the radiation emitted by the Sun from those of the radiation emitted by Earth.
Identify the effects of greenhouse gases on Earth’s climate.
So What?
Heat energy from the Sun that is distributed through the atmosphere helps keep Earth warm.

19. Vocabulary
Use your book to locate the definitions for the Review Vocabulary, New Vocabulary, and Academic Vocabulary words on page 98 of your Science Notebook.

20. Review: Radiation, Conduction, & Convection

21. Conduction in Air Heat Transfer Occurs by Conduction Convection
Complete the graphic organizer below with the 3 types of heat transfer.
Heat Transfer
Occurs by
Conduction
Convection
Radiation

22. Summarize why increasing the temperature of air changes its density.
Convection in Air
Summarize why increasing the temperature of air changes its density.
As the temperature of air increases, the kinetic energy of its particles increases and its molecules move farther apart. As the molecules move farther apart, the density of the air decreases because fewer molecules occupy the space available.

23. Convection in Air WARM AIR COLD AIR
Model the way in which convection currents affect air circulation patterns in a room. Use arrows to show the path of air movement. Label the arrows to indicate warm air and cool air.
WARM AIR
COLD AIR

24. Summarize the main ideas of the above sections in two bullet points.
Summarize It!
Summarize the main ideas of the above sections in two bullet points.

25. no yes yes Radiation Traveling through Space As electro-magnetic waves
Compare and Contrast the three forms of heat transfer.
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Does it need a medium?
How is energy transferred? no
yes
yes
As electro-magnetic waves
Through collisions between particles
Through movements of air

26. Radiation Traveling through Space
Create a drawing to show how Earth maintains a radiation balance.

27. Radiation Traveling through Space
Create a drawing to show how Earth maintains a radiation balance.

28. Why is it cold at the poles?

29. Radiation Traveling through Space
Identify three greenhouse gases. Then explain how scientists think greenhouse gases might play a role in global warming.
carbon dioxide
water vapor
methane
1. __________________________ _______________________ 3. ________________
Role in Global Warming:
Greenhouse gases prevent radiation given off by Earth from going out into space and redirect it toward Earth. Increased amounts of greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere.

30. Summarize two main ideas of the above sections.
Summarize It!
Summarize two main ideas of the above sections.

31. Air Currents Chapter 9, Lesson 3
Earth’s Atmosphere
Air Currents
Chapter 9, Lesson 3

32. What You’ll Learn: So What?
Describe how solar energy gives rise to winds.
Explain why Earth’s surface is heated unevenly.
Understand how pressure difference affect winds.
Explain how great air currents circle Earth, transporting heat and water vapor.
So What?
Air currents transport and distribute heat throughout Earth’s atmosphere.

33. Vocabulary
Use your book to locate the definitions for the Review Vocabulary, New Vocabulary, and Academic Vocabulary words on page 101 of your Science Notebook.

34. Increasing Temperature Less Radiation Absorbed More Radiation Absorbed
Local Winds & Eddies
Sequence the Earth materials to indicate how rapidly each heats up when it absorbs solar radiation.
Increasing Temperature
Less Radiation Absorbed
More Radiation Absorbed
1. Snow & Ice
3. Water
4. Forest
5. Asphalt & Concrete
2. Sand

35. cooler, denser air sinks
Local Winds & Eddies
Create two diagrams to show the movement of air in an updraft and in a downdraft. Show heated, less dense air and cooler, denser air. Use arrows to show the direction of movement.
more dense
cooler, denser air sinks
less dense

36. Summarize two main ideas of the above sections.
Summarize It!
Summarize two main ideas of the above sections.

37. Air Currents Around Earth
Model the directions in which winds blow in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres as a result of the Coriolis effect.

38. Air Currents Around Earth
Complete the graphic organizer below to identify the cells in the three-cell model of air movement.
Three-Cell Model
From the
_______toward
the _____ until
it sinks near
____________
______ toward
the ________
until it sinks near
Between 30°° and 60° latitude
Hadley Cell
Polar Cell
Ferrel Cell
equator
poles
poles
equator
30° latitude
60° latitude

39. Air Currents Around Earth
Define Jet Stream.
Jet Stream: strong, continuous winds found in the troposphere.

40. Summarize three main ideas of the above sections.
Summarize It!
Summarize three main ideas of the above sections.