Transcript 10.23-climate-and-Currents

APES 10/23 and 24
NO WARM-UP TODAY
TURN I N YOUR CYCLES OF MAT TER PROJECT TO THE I NBOX
LOG I N TO A NETBOOK FOR NOTES AFTER THE QUIZ!
Abiotic (Non-Living) Factors
We are continuing our learning of
abiotic factors that affect ecosystems
Cycles of matter
Climate
Air Currents
Ocean Currents
Learning Targets
I can describe the major factors that impact climate
◦ Unequal solar heating that creates convenction
◦ Coriolis effect
◦ Prevailing winds
Climate and air Currents
The Atmosphere
Troposphere- first 11
miles
Stratosphere – next
11-30 miles
◦lower portion has
ozone layer
◦Meso, Thermo,
Exosphere less
important to APES
How does
temperature change
as you move through
the atmosphere?
Why?
GREENHOUSE EFFECT-natural process in which heat- trapping
gases (CO2, H20 vapor, CH4), traps heat in the troposphere.
Without this, Earth would be cold and lifeless.
Weather
 Short term physical properties of the troposphere
 Temp., pressure, humidity, precipitation, cloud
cover, wind direction and speed
Less important than
climate in effect on
ecosystems
Climate
Long term weather of an area
Global temperature and precipitation
determined by uneven heating of earth by sun
Lead to distinct climate zones according to
latitude
Cold
Cool Temperate
Warm Temperate
Tropical
(equator)
Tropical
Warm Temperate
Cool Temperate
Cold
Fig. 6.6a, p. 125
Climate type
Factors that Influence Climate
1. Uneven heating of earth’s surface (because it’s a
sphere)
2. Rotation of earth on its axis (Coriolis Effect)
3. Properties of air, water, and land
All of these create predictable ocean and air
currents
Factors that Influence Climate
Solar radiation hits the equator directly, but strikes the
rest of the globe at an increasingly less direct angle.
Albedo= measure of percent of
sunlight reflected by a surface
Equator has highest albedo
This uneven heating creates a
temp. imbalance that affects the air
Convection
Convection currents- global patterns
of air movement created by unequal
heating of earth
Warm air from equator rises and
moves to cold polar regions by
convection
Cold air sinks at the poles- this is the
main source of our wind patterns
Convection Currents
Convection currents are found
at specific places, based on
earth’s latitude
Air currents occurring on
either side of the equator (up
to 30 degrees) are called
Hadley Cells
Branch off from the direct
heating that occurs at the
equator (Intertropical
convergence zone (ITCZ)).
Polar cells are the convection cells near the
poles
Ferrel cells are in between Polar cells and
Hadley cells
Air Circulation Patterns- Prevailing Winds
Tradewinds- sub
tropics
Westerlies temperate
latitudes
Doldrums- still
air along equator
Air Circulation Patterns
We see why the air is
moving (convection), but
why in those directions?
Coriolis Effect- rising
warm air masses are
deflected to the west or the
east
This occurs because the
earth is rotating!
Air Circulation Patterns
All together!
Convection cells and
prevailing winds
caused by unequal
heating and the
Coriolis effect.
Checks for Understanding
Using your new knowledge about climate and air currents,
why do we have a temperate, moist climate?
Use the terms Coriolis effect, convection, ferrel cell, and
prevailing winds
Ocean Currents & El Nino
Ocean currents move in a predictable way, also due
to unequal solar energy and the Coriolis Effect (notes
next time)
However, sometimes these currents move in an
abnormal way!
HW: learn about El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
by doing a guided online assignment
DO ALL EXCEPT THE LAST SECTION
ACCESS IT ONLINE AND SAVE IT AS A GOOGLE DOC