1. WEATHER, CLIMATE, & ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERE

2. Earth’s Relationship with the Sun  Most of the Earth’s energy comes from the Sun.  This type of energy is called solar energy. Solar energy reaches Earth in two ways: 1.Light 2.Heat  What are some ways solar energy affects things here on Earth? –The clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the foods we grow & eat, and which sports we play

3. Earth’s Relationship with the Sun (Continued)  Three different relationships between Earth and the sun control how much solar energy is received at different locations: 1.Rotation 2.Revolution 3.Tilt

4. Rotation, Revolution, & Tilt  Rotation – the Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours. This causes night and day.  Revolution – the Earth revolves around the sun every year (365 ¼ days).  Tilt – the Earth is tilted 23 1/2 ˚. The tilt of the earth’s axis determines the amount of solar energy that different places receive during the year.

5. Solar Energy & Latitude  Different places on Earth receive different amounts of energy.  Tropics – areas near the equator receive a lot of solar energy and are warm all year. The tropics are in the low- latitudes.  Polar regions – areas at the high latitudes that receive very little sun and are cold most of the time.  Middle latitudes – are the areas between the polar regions and the tropics. Temperatures vary depending on the time of year.

6. The Seasons  Season – the time of greater or lesser heat.  4 total – summer, fall, winter, and spring –Summer – daytime lasts longer and the sun’s energy is stronger. –Fall & Spring – daylight & darkness are equal in length and the Sun’s energy is more evenly distributed  The tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the Northern & Southern hemispheres to have opposite seasons at the same time of year.

7. Solstice  Occurs twice in a year –June 21 st - summer – the longest day of year –December 21 st - winter – the shortest day of the year  Earth’s poles tilt toward or away from the sun.

8. EQUINOX  Days and nights are equal  The direct rays of the sun strike the equator.  Sept 22 – Fall  March 21 – spring

9. Difference between Weather & Climate  Weather – conditions in the atmosphere day to day Ex.  Climate – conditions in the atmosphere over a long period of time. Ex. -Tropical  Rain forest

10. DEFINITIONS  Temperature –  Doldrums –  Prevailing winds -

11. Air pressure LLLLow pressure – warm air expands & rises – Unstable 0-60 n/s (front) HHHHigh pressure – cold air – heavy & dense – sinks STABLE – 30-90 n/s

12. WEATHER MAP

13. WINDS  US – westerlies – west to east

17. Atmosphere  Air that surrounds the earth

18. GLOBAL CLIMATES  Classified by precipitation, temperature, & vegetation  LATITUDE – most influence

20. LOW LATITUDE  Desert  Savanna  Rainforest  steppe

24. Middle Latitude  Marine West Coast  Humid continental  Mediterranean  Humid subtropical

25. HC – only 1 that has 4 seasons

26. High latitude  Icecap  Subarctic  Tundra  Highland

27. TUNDRA