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Solar Energy and GLOBAL WINDS

Solar Energy and GLOBAL WINDS. SC State Standards 6-4.7 6-4.8 6-4.9. Solar energy. Solar energy is the driving energy source for the heating of Earth and circulation in Earth’s atmosphere

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Solar Energy and GLOBAL WINDS

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  1. Solar Energy and GLOBAL WINDS SC State Standards 6-4.7 6-4.8 6-4.9

  2. Solar energy • Solar energy is the driving energy source for the heating of Earth and circulation in Earth’s atmosphere • some of the sun’s energy is either reflected or absorbed by gases and/or clouds in the atmosphere- therefore not all of the energy reaches the surface of the earth

  3. Greenhouse effect • Solar energy is absorbed by Earth’s land and water and is changed to heat • This heat moves (radiates) back into the atmosphere (troposphere) • In the troposphere, gases absorb the heat THIS IS THE PROCESS KNOWN AS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT!

  4. Solar energy and it’s effects on water and land: • LAND heats up and releases it’s heat quickly • WATER needs to absorb more solar energy to heat up • WATER warms slowly and releases energy more slowly **IT IS THE WATER ON EARTH THAT HELPS TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE RANGE OF EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE**

  5. Convection currents in the atmosphere are created because warm air near Earth’s surface rises and then cools as it goes up.

  6. Atmospheric convection currents: There are 3 atmospheric convection areas in the Northern hemisphere and 3 in the Southern hemisphere (we will focus on the Northern hemisphere) Northern Hemisphere convection areas: 1. tropical convection region 2. temperate region 3. polar region

  7. Tropical convection region begins at the equator and extends to about 30 degrees north latitude • Temperate region extends from 30 degrees north latitude to about 60 degrees north latitude • Polar region extends from about 60 degrees north latitude to the north pole (or 90 degrees north latitude)

  8. CONVECTION ON A GLOBAL SCALE: • Causes global winds • Moves weather systems in particular directions • Affects ocean currents

  9. Convection on a global scale (cont.) • Convection currents near bodies of water can cause local winds known as land and sea breezes • Land breeze movement of air from land to water • Sea breeze movement of air from water to land

  10. Convection on a global scale (cont.) • Surface currents of Earth’s oceans circulate warm and cold ocean waters and influence the weather and climates of landmasses nearby • Warm Gulf stream current influences the eastern Atlantic shoreline of the U.S. • Cold California current influences the western Pacific shoreline of the U.S.

  11. Cause: unequal heating of EarthEffect: climate zones • 3 climate zones • Tropical • Temperate • polar • Climate zones relate to convection regions!

  12. Cause: convection cells in the atmosphere and Earth spinning on its axisEffect: Global Winds* global winds are found in each convection region* trade winds, prevailing westerly winds and polar winds

  13. JET STREAM: What is a jet stream? - a fast moving ribbon of air that moves around the Earth - it dips, bends and constantly changes positions How does the jet stream affect the weather? - with the changes in the jet stream, air masses and weather systems in its path are moved along by the fast moving air

  14. EXAMPLES OF JET STREAM AND EFFECTS: * polar jet stream brings cold air down from cold polar conditions from north to south * subtropical jet stream brings warm tropical conditions from the south (in Northern hemisphere)

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