1. 7.2 Energy in Earth’s Atmosphere
How does the Sun’s energy travel to Earth? SC.6.E.7.5
What happens to the Sun’s energy near Earth? SC.6.E.7.5, LA , MA.6.A.3.6
How does the Sun’s Energy affect Global winds? SC.6.E.7.5

2. I’ve Seen the Light! Electromagnetic RADIATION
The direct transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.
A table showing the 7 types of electromagnetic radiation listed from longest wavelength all the way to shortest wavelength.
The Electromagnetic SPECTRUM
Radio Waves
Microwaves
Infra-Red Waves
Visible Light
Ultra Violet Rays
X-Rays
Gamma Rays
Please give credit to Adam Lockwood—practicum student
Created this slide and the next slide.

3. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Very Long Waves
Very Short
Waves A B C E F G
Micro
Waves
Infra
Red
Ultra
Violet
Radio Waves
X-Rays
Gamma Rays D
Visible Light

4. What happens to the Sun’s energy near Earth?
Absorbed or reflected
by the atmosphere.
The rest passes through
the atmosphere to Earth’s
surface.
What happens to the Sun’s
energy near Earth?
Different wavelengths of radiation
are absorbed by different layers
in the atmosphere.
Ex. Some UV radiation is
Absorbed by the Ozone Layer,
Infrared Radiation reaches farther
into the atmosphere, etc.
A process called scattering is the cause
Gas molecules scatter short
wavelengths of Visible light
(blue & violet) more than long
Wavelengths (red & orange)
Scattered sunlight looks bluer than
ordinary sunlight
Why is the sky blue??

5. Energy at Earth’s Surface
Reflected
Energy at Earth’s Surface
absorbed
absorbed
radiated
reflected

6. Earth’s surface radiates some energy back into the atmosphere
as infrared radiation
The ozone layer is
located in the
stratosphere and absorbs
some ultra-violet radiation
Much of it’s absorbed by water
Vapor, carbon dioxide, and other
Gases.
The absorbed radiation heats
The gases in the air
These gases in turn hold heat in Earth’s Atmosphere in a process called the Greenhouse effect

7. Energy provided by the sun influences: Global winds Coriolis Effect
global winds and creates temperature
Differences among Earth’s air, water, and
land
Global winds
Created by unequal heating of Earth’s
Surface
Occur over a large area
The way Earth’s rotation makes
winds curve
Northern Hemisphere—winds turn towards
the right
Southern Hemisphere—winds turn towards
the left
Coriolis Effect

8. Why does land heat and cool Quicker than water?
Doldrums
Horse Latitudes
Trade Winds
Prevailing Westerlies,
Polar Easterlies
Global Wind Belts
Why does land heat and cool
Quicker than water?
Less energy is needed to
raise the temperature of land
Land does not transmit light
-so heat is absorbed only at
the surface

9. How does the heating of the land And water affect air temperature?
The air above land and
water heats and cools
with those surfaces
This helps create winds
How does the heating of the land
And water affect air temperature?
Latitude: is the distance from the
equator measured in degrees.