Download File - Mrs. Cole`s 5th Grade Class

Science Starter #1
Is warm air heavier or
lighter than cold air?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Ej_Ayugxk
Wind
*Wind is air in motion. It is produced by the uneven
heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Since
the earth’s surface is made of various land and
water formations, it absorbs the sun’s radiation
unevenly.
What causes the wind to blow?
Cool air REPLACING warm air.
Warm air, which weighs less than cold air, rises letting cool
air move in and replaces that warm air. This movement of
air is what makes the wind blow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCa64yXkgUw
What does air pressure have to do
with air temperature?
Air flows from areas of high pressure into areas of low
pressure because air always looks for lower pressure.
The Coriolis Effect
The rotation of the earth causes moving
air and water to appear to have curved.
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizat
ions/es1904/es1904page01.cfm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcPs_OdQOYU&feature=related
Global Wind Patterns
*Wind on earth has it’s own
patterns.
The region of Earth receiving the
Sun's direct rays is the equator.
Here, air is heated, rises and
moves to either the north or south
pole. This warm air from the
equator begins to cool and sink
once it reaches the poles. Most of
this cooling, sinking air moves
back to the equator to replace the
warmer air. This movement of air
creates many wind patterns.
Global Winds
Can you draw the wind patterns and name them?
60
30
0
30
60
Surface Winds
Why does it take longer to fly from Boston to Seattle then
it does from Seattle to Boston?
Jet Streams
A jet stream is a fast flowing, river of air found in the
atmosphere at around 12 km above the surface of the
Earth just under the tropopause. They form where there is
a significant difference in temperature. Because of the
effect of the Earth's rotation the streams flow west to
east, in a wave-like manner.
Polar Jet Stream
Sea Breeze
Warm
Cold
The land radiates heat back into the air which causes the air to rise. This
air then moves over the ocean which cools. This cooled air replaces the
warm air and the cycle continues.
Land Breeze
Warm
Cold
The ocean radiates heat back into the air which causes the air to rise. This
air then moves over the land which cools. This cooled air replaces the warm
air and the cycle continues.