Download Second Half of Chapter 5

Most of the energy produced by the sun never
reaches the Earth.
31% reflected into outer space.
20% is absorbed by the atmosphere.
49% is absorbed by the ground and helps the
hydrologic cycle to run.
Less than 1% drives the wind and the ocean
currents.
0.02% is captured for photosynthesis.
Energy then is lost as infrared radiation
(reradiation).
The
Sunof the Earth’s surface.
Albedo: The reflective
property
Glaciers and ice sheets reflect 80 to 90%
of the sunlight that hits their surfaces.
Asphalt and buildings have low Albedos and
reflect 10 –15%.
Oceans and forests reflect only about 5%.
Atmospheric Circulation
• Coriolis Effect: Earth’s rotation from West to
East causes air to move to the right of the
direction in which its traveling in the northern
hemisphere and to the left in the southern
hemisphere.
Atmospheric Circulation
Winds:
complex horizontal movements of the atmosphere.
EL NIÑO (ENSO)
EL NIÑO Southern Oscillation
event is a periodic warming of
surface waters of the tropical
East Pacific that alters both
ocean & atmospheric circulation.
LA NIÑA: surface water in the
eastern Pacific becomes unusually cool.
ENSO flooding?
Climate associated with EL
NIÑO
Coastal upwelling weakens during ENSO events.
Climate: average weather conditions
Weather
• The condition of the
atmosphere at a given
place and time.
(Short term)
Rain Shadow Effect…
West coast of North America
Tornadoes
Local, INTENSE storms which
come from thunderstorms.
Wind speed up to 300 mph (F5)
Hurricanes
• Massive, large,
tropical storms.
• Also known as…
• Cyclones (Indian Ocean)
• Typhoons (Pacific)
• Avg. diameter is 300 miles
• Winds 74 mph or greater
• Categories 1-5
Plate
boundary
Hotspo
t
Mt.
Pinatubo
Divergent: Movement apart
Convergent/subduction
Transform Plate Boundary – Plates move
horizontally in opposite directions.