Red at Night Sailors Delight

Wind, Oceans, and Weather

TAKS Objective 5 – The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth and Space systems.

Complex interactions occur between matter and energy.

TEKS 8.10

The student knows that complex interaction occur between matter and energy. The student is expected to:

Describe interactions among solar, weather and ocean systems.

Lesson Objectives

The student can explain how wind cycles between the ocean and the land.

The student describes how air currents flow due the differences in temperature and air pressure.

The student can describe how radiant energy from the Sun affects weather and climate on Earth.

True or False

The seasons are caused by the distance the Earth is from the Sun.

Seasons are due to the tilt of the Earth and differential heating of the earth’s surface.

False

True or False?

The Earth is warmed by heat from the Sun.

False

Heat is energy of moving particles. Between the Sun and the Earth there is nothing to carry heat energy. Warming occurs when radiation or light from the Sun is absorbed by the Earth and its atmosphere and is then changed into heat energy.

Prior Knowledge

Students should understand the concept of a system. (TEKS 6.5 and 7.5) Students should understand that energy can be transformed from one type to another. (TEKS 6.9 and 7.8) Students should know the components of the Solar system. (TEKS 6.13 and 7.13) They should be able to identify the components in the Earth-system that are responsible for weather changes. (TEKS 8.14)

Seasons occur because of the earth’s tilt. The sun’s rays make a direct hit at the equator and strike glancing blows at the poles.

http://www.uwm.edu/Course/416-120/Chapter02/fg02_012.jpg

The uneven distribution of heat drives the atmosphere and ocean to distribute the heat toward the poles to even things out.

Before sunlight reaches the earth it has to pass through the atmosphere. Although there are several layers The troposphere is where weather occurs and where climate is determined.

http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm

Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and heats up the land and water. It really heats up the land. Solar radiation is reflected by into space by white clouds, glaciers, and snow. Dust (natural and manufactured) and volcanic ash also prevent sunlight from reaching the Earth.

The air around the equator is heated the most. It starts raising up through the troposphere. When it hits the top of the troposphere it moves laterally (north and south).

Where the air is warmed, it lifts the atmosphere upward releasing pressure. This is a low pressure zone. When air is cooled, the water vapor condenses to form clouds.

http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm

Where cool air sinks, it presses the atmosphere onto the earth’s surface and creates a high pressure zone. Warmed air holds more water (water evaporates). Warm air pulls moisture out of the air.

http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm

Based on this information, can you explain the climate shown below?

http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm

The winds move in a straight line, but because the Earth rotates underneath them, it causes a deflection of the wind. This deflection is always to the left in the southern hemisphere and always to the right in the northern hemisphere. This is called the Coriolis Effect.http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1904/es1904page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/strahler/0471238007/animations/ch07_animations/animation1.html

Winds also push ocean surface currents around the Earth dramatically affecting the temperature of land adjacent to the ocean.

http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm

Sea Breezes

http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/weather/tutorial/tutorial3.html

Mountain and Valley Wind

http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/weather/tutorial/tutorial3.html

Elements of Weather and Climate

• Air temperature

• Humidity of the air

• Type and amount of clouds

• Type and amount of precipitation

• Air pressure

• Wind speed and direction

Difference between Climate and Weather

• Weather is current atmospheric conditions at a certain place (e.g., temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity)

• Climate is the general weather conditions over long periods of time. It is the average weather for a certain area.

ENGAGE

Show the land and sea breeze animation.

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

OR

Show the “Doldrums” clip from the Weather Video

EXPLORE

Examine temperature differences of land and water. Complete the Wind and Water Activity.

EXPLAIN

1. How is the earth warmed?

2. What is the role of the specific heat of water and land in weather and climate?

3. What is the role of ocean circulation with regard to climate and weather?

ELABORATE

• Create Geoblox of the day and night sea breeze and the ocean wave.

EVALUATE

Create a 2-line labeled drawing of the land and sea breeze. Include an explanation about how differential heating of the land and water creates air flow and the role of heat and pressure in creating the movement of the wind.

ENGAGE

Show the wind animation

http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?File=39949

EXPLORE

Examine the effects of differential temperature on air pressure. Complete the Blowing Smoke Activity.

EXPLAIN

1. Explain how air temperature and pressure create air movement.

2. Explain how wind moves through the atmosphere.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/strahler/0471238007/animations/ch07_animations/animation3.html

ELABORATE

Create a model showing how wind circulates on the earth.

EVALUATE

Label the Hadley cell, ferrel cell, and polar cell on the diagram. Label the approximate location of jet streams on the diagram. Indicate areas of high and low pressure between the cells.

Special Thanks for the spinning globe animation available from:

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/globalimages.html