Download Global Ocean Currents

Abiotic Factors Determining Biomes:
Atmosphere, Global Wind & Ocean Currents, Proximity
to Large Bodies of Water, and The Rain Shadow Effect
Do now:
• Please pick up the atmosphere handout up
front.
• Plot the data, then draw a smooth curve.
Earth’s
Atmosphere
• Atmospheric layers
delineated by temperature
• Gasses w/constant
proportions
o Nitrogen 78%
o Oxygen 21%
o Argon 0.09%
o Carbon Dioxide 0.039%
• Particulate Matter (PM)
o Ash
o Soot
o Pollen
o Mineral dust
o Salt spray
• Sun emits EMS: Radio 
micro IR  visible  UV
 X-rays  Gamma
• Main part of the spectrum
absorbed in the
thermosphere  x-rays &
gamma rays
• Main part of the spectrum
absorbed the by ozone layer
 UV
• Main part of the spectrum
that reaches the Earth’s
surface  Visible
• Main part of the spectrum
that is radiated by the
Earth’s surface and then
absorbed by GH gasses  IR
NASA Earth Observatory:
The Greenhouse Effect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzC
A60WnoMk
Unequal Heating of Earth
The unequal heating is due to:
• The variation in angle at which the Sun's rays strike
• The amount of surface area over which the Sun's rays
are distributed
• Some areas of Earth reflect more solar energy than
others. (Albedos)
Unequal Heating of Earth
As the Sun's energy passes through the atmosphere and strikes land and
water, it warms the surface of Earth. But this warming does not occur
evenly across the planet.
The % of
incoming sunlight
that is reflected
from a surface is
called its albedo.
Global Atmospheric Circulation
Global patterns of air movement are initiated by unequal heating
of the Earth Convection Currents
• Wind currents are driven
by differences in pressure
largely dictated by
temperature.
• These pressure
differences cause rising
and sinking air
• Climate (temp and
precipitation) or
terrestrial biomes can be
expected.
• Winds don’t flow straight
b/c Earth is spinning
Earth's Rotation and the Coriolis Effect
As Earth rotates, this causes a deflection of objects that are moving
directly north or south.
Global Wind Currents
Earth's Rotation and the Coriolis Effect
• Coriolis Effect- the deflection
of an object's path due to
Earth's rotation.
• The prevailing winds of the
world are produced by a
combination of atmospheric
convection currents and the
Coriolis effect.
Global Ocean Currents
Global ocean currents are mainly a result of global wind patterns and also show
deflection due to the Coriolis Effect. The circular pattern of major ocean currents are
called gyres. Gyres that cross latitudes, bring in warm or cold water into their new
surroundings, and affect climate in that region.
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Proximity to Large Bodies of Water
• Water has a high specific heat capacity.
• The specific heat of a substance is the heat needed to change the
temperature of one gram of the substance by one degree Celsius.
• Some substances (ex. air) change temperature with the addition of
very little energy, while others, like water, need greater amounts
of energy to change.
• So, the specific heat capacity of water helps regulate climate in
coastal regions.
• Coastal regions have narrower ranges in temperature compared to
inland areas.
Topography & The Rain Shadow Effect
The Rain Shadow Effect
• When air moving inland from the ocean that contains a large amount of
water vapor meets the windward side of a mountain range (the side facing
the wind), it rises and begins to experience cooling.
• Because water vapor condenses as air cools, clouds form and precipitation
falls.
• The presence of the mountain range causes large amounts of precipitation
to fall on its windward side.
• The cold, dry air then travels to the other side of the mountain range (the
leeward side), where it descends.
•
This air is now warm and dry and produces arid conditions on the
leeward side forming the region called a rain shadow.
Clouds &
Fog
Closure:
• What are the four layers of the atmosphere from least to
most dense.
• In what two layers does most of the absorption of light
occur? Be specific- type of light and where.
• Explain the greenhouse effect.
Homework:
• Practice drawing out the global wind currents. Label and color
code global ocean currents.
• Biomes triangles and CE Scrapbooks due 12/10