Weather

What is weather? Weather is defined as the conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. What is the atmosphere? The mixture of gases that surround the Earth. Weather takes place in the troposphere.

Factors that influence weather: Heat energy Air pressure Winds Moisture

What drives (is responsible) for weather? Solar energy! The sun provides the energy that drives all of the Earth’s atmospheric movement and ocean currents resulting in weather and climate!

In either picture, where are most of the sun’s rays hitting? Earth’s Revolution In either picture, where are most of the sun’s rays hitting?

The sun’s rays hit the equator! From Tropic to Tropic!

How do the sun’s rays affect Earth’s land temperatures? The sun’s rays heat/warm the land (continents). The land is warmer near the equator because of the direct rays and cooler towards the poles.

How do the sun’s rays affect Earth’s ocean temperatures? The sun’s rays heat/warm the oceans. The water is warmer near the equator because of the direct rays and cooler towards the poles.

How do the ocean and land temperatures affect air masses above them? Land warms faster causing the air above it rise because it has less density and more volume . This creates a LOW pressure system The air cools becomes more dense and sinks because it has less volume. This creates a HIGH pressure system. This movement of air results in a SEABREEZE! Oceans take 4x longer to heat and cool verses land!

How do the ocean and land temperatures affect air masses above them? The air cools becomes more dense and sinks because it has less volume. This creates a HIGH pressure system. Ocean water takes longer to cool so it is warmer causing the air above it rise because it has less density and more volume . This creates a LOW pressure system This movement of air results in a LANDBREEZE! Oceans take 4x longer to heat and cool verses land!

If most of the sun’s energy hits the equator, how does radiant energy reach the poles? Winds!

Why does weather change? Weather changes each day because the air in our atmosphere is always moving, distributing energy from the sun! http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/science/earth-sci/weather-101-sci/