Download Solar Energy

Solar Energy
• Solar energy is the source of most of
Earth’s heat on land, in the oceans and in
the atmosphere.
• When solar energy interacts with air, soil
and water, things happen like wind, rain
and other elements of weather.
Solar Energy
• About 50% of the energy that reaches
Earth’s surface from the sun is absorbed
by land and oceans.
• The rest of the energy is either reflected
back into space or absorbed by our
atmosphere.
Solar Energy
• The temperature of a surface helps us to
determine how much of the sun’s energy
has been absorbed by it.
– Only about 5% of the sun’s energy is
absorbed by snow (very cold!).
– About 95% of the sun’s energy is absorbed by
a dark forest.
Wind, Weather & Seasons
• Winds form and weather patterns change
because of . . .
– Differences in how the earth’s surfaces
absorb and give off energy.
• The tilt of earth’s axis is responsible for
the changing seasons on earth.
Life on Earth
• There are two reasons why earth is warm
enough for life to exist on it.
• They are . . .
– Our atmosphere
– Our weather