APES 10/23 and 24 No Warm-Up today Turn in your cycles of matter project to the inbox Log in 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 Tropical (equator) Tropical Cold Climate type 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