This is a clip from an AWESOME video shown at the MOSH called "Dynamic Earth
The video talks about everything you need to know for Unit 3!
Global Ocean Currents
Surface Currents: Horizontal, stream-like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean (the top 10% of the ocean)
•Can reach depths of several hundred meters
•Controlled by three factors
–Global winds (Ex: jet stream)
–Coriolis Effect
–Continental Deflections
•Example: Gyres
Deep Currents: •Stream-like movement of ocean water far below the surface
•Caused by
–Changes in density
–Change in temperature (Cold = more dense)
–Change in salinity (more salt = more dense)
•Can reach depths of several hundred meters
•Controlled by three factors
–Global winds (Ex: jet stream)
–Coriolis Effect
–Continental Deflections
•Example: Gyres
Deep Currents: •Stream-like movement of ocean water far below the surface
•Caused by
–Changes in density
–Change in temperature (Cold = more dense)
–Change in salinity (more salt = more dense)
Coriolis Effect: When the Earth's rotation causes moving air and water to appear to move the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the left in the South Hemisphere.
The contrast between high and low pressure and the Coriolis effect creates distinct wind patterns, called prevailing winds.
Jet Stream: A narrow band of high winds located near the top of the troposphere.
Gyre: A large system of circulating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements. Produced by the Coriolis Effect.
The contrast between high and low pressure and the Coriolis effect creates distinct wind patterns, called prevailing winds.
Jet Stream: A narrow band of high winds located near the top of the troposphere.
Gyre: A large system of circulating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements. Produced by the Coriolis Effect.
Tradewinds: steady winds that flow from EAST to WEST between 30 degrees North latitude and 30 degrees South latitude.
Polar Easterlies:Cold winds that blow from the EAST to WEST near the North and South Poles.
Westerlies: Steady winds that flow from WEST to EAST between latitudes 30 degrees North and 60 degrees North, and 30 degrees South and 60 degrees South.
SEA BREEZE LAND BREEZE
HIGH PRESSURE (cold water) to LOW PRESSURE (hot sand) HIGH PRESSURE (cold sand) to LOW PRESSURE (warm water)
HIGH PRESSURE (cold water) to LOW PRESSURE (hot sand) HIGH PRESSURE (cold sand) to LOW PRESSURE (warm water)
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Weather: the atmospheric conditions, along with short term, of a certain place at a certain time.
Weather Variables:
Air Temperature: the measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air. More kinetic energy = higher temperature (Remember when you rubbed your hands together really fast!) Measured with a THERMOMETER
Air Pressure: the pressure that a column of air exerts on the air or a surface below. Measured with a BAROMETER.
Wind: created by air moving from areas of high to low pressure.
Wind Direction: where the wind is coming from. Measured with an ANEMOMETER.
Sea Breeze: The sun heats the land and creates a low pressure area over the land while the ocean reflects the sun's heat and remains cool creating a high pressure area over the water. We know that wind moves from HIGH to LOW pressure, so with a sea breeze, the high pressure area is the sea and the low pressure area is the land. (Wind moves from sea to land).
Land Breeze: The sun is not out to heat the land and the moon is out instead. Therefore, the land is cooler which creates a high pressure area over the land, and the sea is warmer which creates a low pressure area over the water. We know the wind moves from HIGH to LOW pressure, so with a land breeze, the high pressure is the land and the low pressure is the sea. (Wind moves from land to sea).
Humidity: the amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity = more water vapor in the air. Measured in grams/meters cubed (g/m3)
Relative Humidity: the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could hold at that temperature.
I_____> Temperature determines the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold.
WARM AIR CAN HOLD MORE THAN COLD AIR.
Relative Humidity is measured with a PSYCHROMETER.
Example: 100% Relative Humidity = the air is holding the maximum amount of water vapor for that particular temperature.
25% Relative Humidity = the air is holding 25% ( or 1/4) of the maximum amount of water vapor is could hold.
Remember: think about the pictures of the water glasses that were filled with different amount
Dew Point: the temperature at which air is fully saturated because of decreasing temperatures while holding the amount of moisture constant. As temperature decreases, the amount of moisture air can hold also decreases.
GREATER THAN 0 degrees Celcius = Dew
LESS THAN 0 degrees Celcius = Frost
The Water Cycle SC.6.E.7.2.
Pages 23-25 (Explain) in your Textbook
Water Cycle: the continuous movement of water on, above, and below Earth's surface.
Evaporation: the process by which a liquid, such as water, changes into a gas. (Liquid --> Gas)
Precipitation: Moisture that falls from clouds to Earth's surface.
Condensation: The process by which a gas changes to a liquid. (Gas --> Liquid)
CLOUD FORMATION OCCURS IN THIS STEP!
Transpiration: The process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves.
Water Cycle: the continuous movement of water on, above, and below Earth's surface.
Evaporation: the process by which a liquid, such as water, changes into a gas. (Liquid --> Gas)
Precipitation: Moisture that falls from clouds to Earth's surface.
Condensation: The process by which a gas changes to a liquid. (Gas --> Liquid)
CLOUD FORMATION OCCURS IN THIS STEP!
Transpiration: The process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves.
Earth Spheres SC.6.E.7.4
Layers of Earth's Atmosphere SC.6.E.7.9
The Exosphere is on the edge of outer space and has very little air. 400-40,000 miles above Earth.
The Thermosphere is where space shuttles orbit the Earth. Contains two sub-layers: the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. The Northern and Southern lights occur mostly in the thermosphere. 50-400 miles above Earth.
The Mesosphere protects us from meteors and is the coolest layer of the atmosphere. Space debris burns up at this level to create shooting stars! 31-50 miles above Earth.
The Stratosphere contains the ozone layer. The Ozone layer blocks out ultraviolet light. 10-31 miles above Earth.
The Troposphere is where the clouds and weather are found. Up to 10 miles above Earth's surface.
Acronyms to help you remember:
(From closest to the Earth to furthest from the Earth.
Tropical Storms Make Things Explode
(From closest to the Earth to furthest from the Earth.
Tropical Storms Make Things Explode
Natural Disasters and How We Protect Ourselves:
Sun exposure: We protect ourselves from sun exposure with sunscreen (SPF= Sun Protection Factor), sunglasses, hats, long sleeves, umbrellas (shade)
Hurricanes: We build and use sandbags, , warning systems (48 hours in advance), storm shutters
Tornadoes: We build storm storm shelters, build houses with stronger materials, alarms (loud sound)
Tsunami: (form from earthquakes or underwater volcanoes): We build high structures, structures made of stronger materials, barriers, levies to protect from flooding
Disease: (Pandemic- large scale, Epidemic- small scale): We create vaccines to protect ourselves
Earthquakes: (when fault lines collide or slip under each other): Warning system, in Japan they have text alerts
Floods: (can result from hurricanes, tsunamis, intense thunderstorms): can spread disease when the water gets contaminated by dead animals, debris, etc., we build levies or barriers to protect ourselves, higher structures.
Wildfires: (can result from droughts or dry/arid environments, people, lightening): helicopters spray water or sand
Snow Storms/Blizzard: News warnings (48-72 hours in advance), better insulated houses and pipes, preparedness such as salting the roads and snow-plows
Volcanoes: build cities away from volcanoes
Droughts: store water, set water restrictions (ex. you can only use water on specific days, no watering lawns or any extraneous water uses.
Hurricanes: We build and use sandbags, , warning systems (48 hours in advance), storm shutters
Tornadoes: We build storm storm shelters, build houses with stronger materials, alarms (loud sound)
Tsunami: (form from earthquakes or underwater volcanoes): We build high structures, structures made of stronger materials, barriers, levies to protect from flooding
Disease: (Pandemic- large scale, Epidemic- small scale): We create vaccines to protect ourselves
Earthquakes: (when fault lines collide or slip under each other): Warning system, in Japan they have text alerts
Floods: (can result from hurricanes, tsunamis, intense thunderstorms): can spread disease when the water gets contaminated by dead animals, debris, etc., we build levies or barriers to protect ourselves, higher structures.
Wildfires: (can result from droughts or dry/arid environments, people, lightening): helicopters spray water or sand
Snow Storms/Blizzard: News warnings (48-72 hours in advance), better insulated houses and pipes, preparedness such as salting the roads and snow-plows
Volcanoes: build cities away from volcanoes
Droughts: store water, set water restrictions (ex. you can only use water on specific days, no watering lawns or any extraneous water uses.
WEATHERING and EROSION
Gizmo Link : explorelearning.com
Weathering: The physical and chemical processes that change objects on Earth's surface over time.
Mechanical Weathering: When physical processes naturally break down rocks into smaller pieces.
(Example: freezing and thawing)
Chemical Weathering: changes the materials that are part of a rock into new materials.
(Example: when acid and water change the Earth's surface)
Erosion: the removal of weathered material from one location to another.
Deposition: the laying down or settling of eroded material.
Mechanical Weathering: When physical processes naturally break down rocks into smaller pieces.
(Example: freezing and thawing)
Chemical Weathering: changes the materials that are part of a rock into new materials.
(Example: when acid and water change the Earth's surface)
Erosion: the removal of weathered material from one location to another.
Deposition: the laying down or settling of eroded material.