Sun’s Energy, Weather and Oceans
Test Review
Sun’s Energy
1. Where on Earth does the atmosphere gain thermal energy (heated)?
At the equator
2. Where on Earth is thermal energy removed from the atmosphere (cooled)?
Near the poles
3. How do you think the Coriolis Effect changes the direction of the wind on Earth?
The Coriolis Effect causes wind currents to curve instead of travel in a straight line
between the Equator and the poles.
4. How are the three wind belts affected by the Sun’s energy?
Easterlies – winds that blow from the east to the west.
Westerlies – winds that blow from the west to the east.
Trade winds – tropical winds that blow from the east to the west.
It warms Earth’s surface, causing changes in air temperature and pressure.
Label the major wind patterns on the diagram of the earth:
5. How do you think wind causes currents in Earth’s oceans?
The air pushes against the water and makes it move in the same direction as the air
current.
6. Why does the melting of sea ice cause currents to flow deep in the ocean instead of
on the surface?
Cold water sinks below warmer water because it has a higher density. When sea ice
melts, it has a lower temperature and greater density than the surrounding water, so
it sinks to the ocean floor.
7. How are surface winds formed?
Surface winds are formed when the heated air rises up into the atmosphere, moves
towards the polar region, cools, and drops back to the surface, creating the
movement of surface air. The rotation of the Earth creates the Coriolis Effect, which
gives the surface wind direction.
8. What are the two different types of ocean currents, and how are they formed?
Surface winds blow at the top layer of water in the ocean to form surface ocean
currents. Deep ocean currents are caused by the melting of sea ice and are driven
by density differences, which are controlled by temperature and salinity differences.
9. What is the role of the Sun in the formation of convection currents in Earth’s
atmosphere and oceans?
The Sun provides Earth with radiant thermal energy. The equator receives the most
thermal energy transfer, and the poles receive the least. Convection currents then
move the thermal energy around the planet in the oceans and atmosphere.
10. What is the role of convection in the formation of wind and ocean currents?
Convection is a form of thermal energy transfer when a less dense, warmer
substance rises and a cooler, denser substance sinks, creating currents. Wind forms
from convection currents of heated and cooled air rising into the atmosphere and
dropping back to the surface of the Earth. Deep ocean currents are directly caused
by convection, as the cold, dense water drops to the sea floor and then slowly rises
as the water is heated.
11. How is thermal energy from the Sun distributed on Earth?
Thermal energy is distributed from the equator towards the poles through convection
currents in the atmosphere and oceans.
Weather Maps
1. What is a high pressure area? How are they represented on a weather map?
High-pressure areas are locations where the air is denser and tends to sink. They
are represented with an “H.”
2. What type of weather is associated with high pressure areas?
Fair weather and mostly clear skies
3. What is a low pressure area? How are they represented on a weather map?
Low pressure areas are locations where the air is less dense and tends to lift. They
are represented with an “L.”
4. What type of weather is associated with low pressure areas?
Stormy weather and precipitation
5. Map Set A: How does the high-pressure area in Map Set A affect Texas weather
conditions?
Texas will have fair weather and mostly clear skies.
6. Map Set B: How do temperatures of the low pressure area on Map Set B affect
possible precipitation to that area?
The type of precipitation depends on the temperature. If it is warm, it will rain. If it is
colder, it can result in snow or sleet.
7. Map Set C: Use the terms high-pressure system and low-pressure system to
describe current weather conditions using Map Set C in West Texas and on the Gulf
Coast.
The high-pressure system in West Texas is creating clear skies. The low-pressure
system on the Gulf Coast is creating cloudy skies and precipitation.
8. Define the following four fronts, weather conditions with the map symbol:
Cold Fronts:
Heavy cloud cover and short, but intense precipitation
Warm Fronts:
Cloudy with scattered precipitation, can last for several days.
Stationary Fronts:
Precipitation and cloud cover can last for several days.
Occluded Fronts:
Clouds and precipitation, stormy conditions
Clouds and precipitation, stormy conditions
Oceans and Weather
1. What is the difference between high air pressure and low air pressure?
High air pressure is a mass of colder, more dense air and low air pressure is a mass
of warmer, less dense air.
2. What is the basic way Earth’s oceans influence the formation of weather systems?
Oceans influence the formation of weather systems by transporting heat and
moisture.
3. What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a complex tropical weather system fueled by warm ocean waters that
is associated with thunderstorms, rain, high winds, hail, and tornadoes. Hurricanes
have winds of at least 74 mph.
4. What conditions does a hurricane need to form?
Hurricanes need warm waters and light winds to form.
5. What is the fuel for a hurricane?
Evaporation of warm ocean water fuels a hurricane.
6. What type of air pressure is associated with a hurricane?
Hurricanes are associated with areas of low pressure.
7. What causes the strong spinning winds of a hurricane?
Hurricanes are fueled by warm, moist air. As this air rises in the atmosphere, clouds
form. The winds flow outward and start spinning counterclockwise (in the Northern
Hemisphere) due to the rotation of the Earth (the Coriolis effect). As more ocean
water evaporates, rises, and fuels the storm, the low pressure area of the storm
center gets stronger, causing the storm to spin faster.
Match the letter:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Hot, less dense, rising air A
Area of low pressure D
Wind is created as air rushes in to an area of low pressure E
Cooled, more dense, air flowing down the column B
Heat is trapped in the column by spinning winds C
9. What factors would make this hurricane die?
A hurricane that never reaches land will die or fall apart from entering colder waters
or from wind shear. A hurricane that makes landfall will die or fall apart from lack of
fuel because there is no more water once it is over land.
10. The hurricane releases its energy over landfall in the form of
rain
.
11. What is the main benefit or function of a hurricane?
Hurricanes move excess heat energy from the tropics to the poles to maintain
global heat balance.They bring beneficial rains and end droughts, clear out dead
and diseased trees in tropical forests, help to drive the thermohaline circulation,
etc.
12. Write a description of the life cycle of an Atlantic basin hurricane from birth to death.
Include the effect of the ocean on the hurricane.
Hurricanes are born as air disturbances are formed over the deserts of North Africa.
When the disturbances are blown out to sea by the easterly winds, the warm waters
of the Atlantic Ocean provide fuel to make the disturbance grow into a tropical
depression. As low pressure builds and the evaporation rate increases, the
depression becomes a tropical storm. The rotation of the Earth causes the winds of
the storm to spin in a counter-clockwise direction. If the conditions of warm ocean
waters and calm, high level winds continues, the rapid evaporation rate forms the
wall clouds, and the air rushing into the low pressure area forms the strong winds
that make the storm a hurricane. The hurricane grows in strength as it travels across
the heated ocean towards the west. The storm is pushed to the west by the easterly
winds but is steered by the Bermuda High. If the High is small, the hurricane will
never reach land and will die when it reaches an area of colder water or high
sheering winds. If the High is large, the hurricane will strike land in either North or
Central America. The storm will then die out from the lack of fuel, or heated water,
as it moves over land.
13. What role does convection play in the formation of a hurricane?
Convection makes the cylinders of the hurricane heat engine run. The warm water of
the ocean quickly evaporates and moves heat energy into the air where it rises as
water vapor into the atmosphere. The heat is released as the water vapor
condenses into clouds, forming the eye wall and hot tower clouds. The now cooler
air sinks back down the eye of the storm, is quickly reheated again by the heat
trapped by the spinning winds, and rises once again.
14. What causes hurricanes to form and move towards the United States?
Air disturbances over Africa combined with warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean cause
hurricanes to form. The easterly winds push the storms westward, and a large
Bermuda High cause the storms to move towards the United States.
15. How do hurricanes and oceans affect global weather?
Hurricanes move excess heat energy from the tropics to the poles and bring
beneficial rains. It is also believed that hurricanes help drive the thermohaline deep
ocean current which influences short term weather patterns. Since oceans provide
the fuel for hurricanes, oceans are vital for hurricanes to exist. Basically, hurricanes
and oceans work together to move heat energy and moisture around the globe to
affect global weather.