Earth-Sun Relationships: Guided Notes

EARTH-SUN RELATIONSHIPS: GUIDED NOTES

A) Climate vs. Weather

· __________________ is the weather pattern in one place over a __________________ period of time

· __________________ is the current __________________ conditions, including temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity at a given place

B) Earth’s Tilt and Rotation

· __________________ affects the temperature of places.

· Earth makes one rotation on its to cause __________________.

· Earth takes 365 ¼ days to __________________ around the sun.

C) The Seasons

· Earth’s __________________ and __________________ create seasons

· March 21st

o Sun’s rays fall directly on __________________

o __________________ (equal day and night)

· Tropic of Capricorn – 23 ½o S

o December 22nd – __________________ Solstice

o Shortest day of sunlight in __________________ hemisphere

· Tropic of Cancer – 23 ½o N

o June 21st – __________________ Solstice

o __________________ moves so sun falls on this latitude.

o Longest day of sunlight in __________________ hemisphere

D) The Greenhouse Effect

· Earth’s __________________ acts as a like in a greenhouse trapping the sun’s __________________.

· Atmosphere provides just the right amount of __________________ to promote life.

· Greenhouse Effect: Sun’s __________________ turns into heat.

· Global __________________

o Some scientists believe there is a rise in CO2 levels (carbon dioxide). More __________________ is trapped.

o __________________ activities such as: burning of coal, oil, and natural gas releasing CO2

· Or is this phenomenon a natural occurrence?

E) Factors That Effect Climate: LEMPOS!!!

L: __________________

• Rays of sun & how it strikes the earth

• Low latitudes get sun year-round (hot all year)

• Middle latitudes (tropics to poles) are temperate

• Great temperature __________________

• True __________________ changes

• High latitudes (Arctic & Antarctic Circles) – Cold all year

E: __________________

• Atmosphere gets __________________

• Thinner air retains __________________ heat…not as dense as altitude increases

M: __________________ __________________

• __________________ effect (Rain shadow)

• Winds with moisture cool as they move up the mountain and __________________ – windward side

• Weather patterns _______________ or are even stopped as they move across the mountains – leeward side

P: __________________ (closeness) to water

• Water __________________ to heat than land, so land near water has consistent temperature*

• Affected by landforms

• __________________ of the Earth on its axis also play a part

O: __________________ __________________

• __________________ flowing in the ocean - Cold and warm streams of water move through oceans (based on earth’s __________________, differences in water temperature, and change in air pressure).

• Warm waters flow __________________ from the Equator toward the poles; cold water __________________ the Equator

• Wind and ocean currents __________________ the sun’s heat through CONVECTION (heat rises…)

• Direct influence on __________________

• Global __________________ patterns work the same way

S: Storms

• El __________________ (boy with the ___________ heart)

• Weather pattern

• Seasonal __________________ in the Americas

• Drought in Australia/Asia

• Every 2-7 years

• _____ Nina (girl with the _____________ heart)

• Weather pattern

• __________________ of El Nino

• Flooding around and toward India

• Drier on the __________________

• Certain geographical areas receive more __________________ than others (Hurricane vs. typhoon; Tornado Alley)

F) Types of Climates

· Low Latitude – Tropical

· Hot and __________________ all year round.

· Rain forests – Average annual rainfall varies from about 70 to 100 inches; Average 80o F for high temperatures

· __________________ forests

· Low to Mid Latitudes

· __________________ precipitation.

· Steppe climate usually __________________ desert climates.

· Desert rainfall is only 10 inches (Steppe b/t 10 and 20 inches)

· Mid Latitude to Mediterranean

· Warm to hot, dry summers and __________________, rainy winters.

· On the __________________ side of continents (marine west coast)

· Between 30 degrees and 45 degrees latitude.

· Southern California and near Mediterranean Sea

· Highland

· In mountainous regions.

· Humid continental

· __________________ with elevation.

· Evergreen & Deciduous trees grow at base of mountains.

· Mid Latitude to High Latitudes

· Short, cool __________________ and long, bitterly cold winters.

· Needle-leaved evergreen trees (__________________ forests)

· Most precipitation falls in the summer.

· High Latitudes to __________________

· __________________ on Earth.

· Summer temperatures __________________ rise above the freezing point.

· Permafrost: permanently frozen lower layers of soil in the tundra and subarctic regions

· Supports no __________________.

· Precipitation is meager and is almost always in the form of snow