Table of Contents Chapter: Atmosphere Section 3: Air Movement
We will learn about: -Air Movement=Wind -Why different latitudes on Earth will receive different amounts of Solar Energy -The Coriolis Effect
Why it s important: -Because the Sun's energy is the driving force of Weather and Climate -Because the Sun s energy is responsible for all the movements of air and water on Earth -Because the Coriolis effect is responsible for the movement air (winds) -Because the movement of air and water affects weather and climate
Imp Concept - Density: When substances are mixed: less dense will float on the denser one the different densities will force materials (air and water) to move causing convection currents
Air Density What happens to the molecules of a substance when this substance is warmed up? Does the density change? The molecules or particles will expand and the substance will become less dense Air density depends on temperature
**There is a relationship in between air temperature, air density and air pressure
Temp, Density and Pressure Colder and denser air, will sink Warmer and less dense air, Will rise
Equator, Latitude and Longitude
Latitude imaginary lines parallel to the Equator Longitude imaginary lines perpendicular to the Equator
3 Heated Air Areas of Earth receive different amounts of radiation from the Sun because Earth is curved. some areas are warmer than others. Latitudes closer to the Equator are warmer
3 How are Winds formed? 1)The air at the equator is warmer and is less dense. 2)This air moves up in the atmosphere 3) It is replaced by denser, colder air from the poles.
3 Wind Wind is the movement of air from: an area of higher pressure ( colder air and more dense) to an area of lower pressure ( warmer air and less dense).
**How Global Winds are formed Global winds are winds that cover long distances *Reason 1: The uneven distribution of Sun s heat create areas with different densities and different air pressures in the atmosphere, generating the winds that circulate around the globe. *Reason 2: Coriolis Effect
*Coriolis Effect and Air Movement *Coriolis Effect is a phenomenon that causes fluids such as air and water to curve as they travel across and above the Earth s surface. The rotation of the Earth is what causes the deflection ( movement) of these fluids, creating winds and affecting how they move around the Earth
Coriolis Effect and Air Movement winds are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, same with water.
Youtube video The Coriolis Effect ( 3:06) Why do storms spin in different directions depending on their location and why do they spin in the first place? pbs.org/nova/labs https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=you +tube+coriolis+effect&ei=utf- 8&fr=moz35
3 Air Movement Wind land and water are also important for the formation of local winds. Local winds will not cover long distances Land and water strongly influence wind systems because they absorb heat differently, warming up the air on top. Specific heat of water is higher than land it takes more heat and time for the water to warm up and cool down
How air moves Colder and denser, will sink Warmer and less dense, will rise
WINDS Two types: Global winds and Local winds Global Winds affect the weather patterns for the entire planet because they can cover long distances Local Winds affect local weather
3 Local Winds: Sea and Land Breezes These breezes will blow in one direction during the day and to the opposite direction at night These happens because the water and land absorb heat differently so the air om top od land and water will have different temperatures.
3 Sea and Land Breezes Water and land will warm up differently. It takes more time for the water to cool and warm up compared to the land, because of the water s higher specific heat
*Specific Heat Specific heat is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by 1 C. Water is a substance that has a very high specific heat. It takes more heat to raise the temperature of 1 gr of water compared to the heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gr of many other substances
***Low Pressure X Rain *In areas of low pressure, the warm air will rise, reaching areas that are colder. In colder areas this air will condense forming clouds that might precipitate in the form of rain