Red at Night Sailors Delight
Wind, Oceans, and Weather
TAKS Objective 5 – The student will
demonstrate an understanding of
Earth and Space systems.
Complex interactions occur between
matter and energy.
TEKS 8.10
The student knows that complex interaction
occur between matter and energy. The
student is expected to:
Describe interactions among solar,
weather and ocean systems.
Lesson Objectives
The student can explain how wind cycles between
the ocean and the land.
The student describes how air currents flow due
the differences in temperature and air pressure.
The student can describe how radiant energy from
the Sun affects weather and climate on Earth.
True or False
The seasons are caused by the distance the
Earth is from the Sun.
False
Seasons are due to the tilt of the Earth
and differential heating of the earth’s
surface.
True or False?
The Earth is warmed by heat
from the Sun.
False
Heat is energy of moving particles. Between
the Sun and the Earth there is nothing to
carry heat energy. Warming occurs when
radiation or light from the Sun is absorbed
by the Earth and its atmosphere and is
then changed into heat energy.
Prior Knowledge
Students should understand the concept of
a system. (TEKS 6.5 and 7.5) Students
should understand that energy can be
transformed from one type to another.
(TEKS 6.9 and 7.8) Students should know
the components of the Solar system.
(TEKS 6.13 and 7.13) They should be able
to identify the components in the Earthsystem that are responsible for weather
changes. (TEKS 8.14)
Seasons occur because of the earth’s tilt. The sun’s rays
make a direct hit at the equator and strike glancing
blows at the poles.
http://www.uwm.edu/Course/416-120/Chapter02/fg02_012.jpg
The uneven distribution of heat
drives the atmosphere and
ocean to distribute the heat
toward the poles to even
things out.
Before sunlight reaches
the earth it has to
pass through the
atmosphere.
Although there are
several layers The
troposphere is where
weather occurs and
where climate is
determined.
http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm
Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere
and heats up the land and water. It really heats
up the land. Solar radiation is reflected by into
space by white clouds, glaciers, and snow. Dust
(natural and manufactured) and volcanic ash
also prevent sunlight from reaching the Earth.
The air around the
equator is heated
the most. It starts
raising up through
the troposphere.
When it hits the top
of the troposphere
it moves laterally
(north and south).
Where the air is
warmed, it lifts the
atmosphere upward
releasing pressure.
This is a low pressure
zone. When air is
cooled, the water
vapor condenses to
form clouds.
http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm
Where cool air sinks, it
presses the
atmosphere onto the
earth’s surface and
creates a high
pressure zone.
Warmed air holds
more water (water
evaporates). Warm
air pulls moisture out
of the air.
http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm
Based on this information,
can you explain the climate
shown below?
http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm
The winds move in a straight line, but
because the Earth rotates underneath them,
it causes a deflection of the wind. This
deflection is always to the left in the
southern hemisphere and always to the right
in the northern hemisphere. This is called
the Coriolis Effect.
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizatio
ns/es1904/es1904page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/strahler/04712
38007/animations/ch07_animations/animation1.html
Winds also push
ocean surface
currents around
the Earth
dramatically
affecting the
temperature of
land adjacent to
the ocean.
http://www-class.unl.edu/geol101i/15a_climate.htm
Sea Breezes
http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/weather/tutorial/tutorial3.html
Mountain and Valley Wind
http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/weather/tutorial/tutorial3.html
Elements of Weather
and Climate
•
•
•
•
•
•
Air temperature
Humidity of the air
Type and amount of clouds
Type and amount of precipitation
Air pressure
Wind speed and direction
Difference between
Climate and Weather
• Weather is current atmospheric conditions
at a certain place (e.g., temperature,
rainfall, wind, humidity)
• Climate is the general weather conditions
over long periods of time. It is the average
weather for a certain area.
ENGAGE
Show the land and sea breeze animation.
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/ter
c/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.c
fm?chapter_no=visualization
OR
Show the “Doldrums” clip from the Weather Video
EXPLORE
Examine temperature differences of land
and water. Complete the Wind and Water
Activity.
EXPLAIN
1. How is the earth warmed?
2. What is the role of the specific heat of
water and land in weather and climate?
3. What is the role of ocean circulation with
regard to climate and weather?
ELABORATE
• Create Geoblox of the day and night sea
breeze and the ocean wave.
EVALUATE
Create a 2-line labeled drawing of the
land and sea breeze. Include an
explanation about how differential
heating of the land and water creates
air flow and the role of heat and
pressure in creating the movement of
the wind.
ENGAGE
Show the wind animation
http://www.schoolportal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?
File=39949
EXPLORE
Examine the effects of differential
temperature on air pressure. Complete the
Blowing Smoke Activity.
EXPLAIN
1. Explain how air temperature and pressure
create air movement.
2. Explain how wind moves through the
atmosphere.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legac
y/college/strahler/0471238007/animations/c
h07_animations/animation3.html
ELABORATE
Create a model showing how wind circulates
on the earth.
EVALUATE
Label the Hadley cell, ferrel cell, and
polar cell on the diagram. Label the
approximate location of jet streams
on the diagram. Indicate areas of high
and low pressure between the cells.
Special Thanks for the spinning globe
animation available from:
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/global
images.html