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Chapter Menu
Lesson 1: Energy from the Sun
Lesson 2: Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Lesson 3: Air Currents
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9.1 Energy from the Sun
atmosphere
troposphere
stratosphere
electromagnetic spectrum
infrared radiation
ultraviolet wave
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Earth’s Atmosphere
• The atmosphere is a mixture of gases that
surrounds Earth.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Layers in the Atmosphere
• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere
What is the
structure of Earth’s
atmosphere?
9.1 Energy from the Sun
9.1 Energy from the Sun
The Sun’s Continuous Spectrum
• The electromagnetic spectrum includes
the entire range of wavelengths or
frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Visible Radiation
• Sunlight is sometimes referred to as visible
light or white light.
• The Sun’s
energy peaks
in the range of
visible light.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Near-Visible Radiation
• Infrared (IR) radiation has longer
wavelengths than visible light.
• Ultraviolet (UV) waves have shorter
wavelengths than visible light.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Sunlight Penetrating the Atmosphere
9.1 Energy from the Sun
A Blue Sky
• Blue, indigo, and violet light is absorbed
and reflected as it passes through the
atmosphere.
• The sky appears
blue when blue light
scatters and
reaches our eyes.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
A Red Sunset
• As the Sun sets, light travels a longer
path through Earth’s atmosphere.
• Longer wavelengths
(yellow, orange) are
reflected, leaving
only the longest
wavelength, red, to
reach our eyes.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
A Black Sky
• Since space has
no atmosphere to
reflect or scatter
any light, the sky
would appear
black.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
The Sun’s Power
• Solar heating provides energy to
warm Earth.
• Solar radiation is constant and uniform,
but is not evenly distributed on Earth.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
The Angle of Sunlight
• The Earth is a sphere and therefore the sun’s
light strikes the surface at different angles.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Sun’s Energy on Earth
• The Sun’s energy serves as the power for
air currents, weather systems, and the
water cycle.
• Energy from the sun can be harnessed
directly and indirectly.
The Water Cycle
9.1 Energy from the Sun
The most abundant gas in the
atmosphere is _____.
A argon
B oxygen
C nitrogen
D ozone
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
Which is a list of visible light from longest
to shortest wavelength?
A blue, indigo, violet, green,
red, orange, yellow
B violet, indigo, blue, green,
yellow, orange, red
C red, orange, yellow, blue,
indigo, violet, green
0%
0%
0%
D
0%
C
D red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo, violet
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.1 Energy from the Sun
What percent of incoming solar
radiation is reflected?
A 30%
B 5%
C 25%
D 50%
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.2 Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
inversion
greenhouse gas
global warming
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Conduction in Air
• Conduction heats air close to Earth’s
surface.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Convection
• Convection moves hot air that is near the
Earth’s surface to higher altitudes.
– In a convection current,
hot air rises and cold air
sinks due to differences
in density.
– Convection currents
distribute heat energy
within the troposphere.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Temperature Inversions
• An inversion occurs when warm air sits on
top of cold air.
• The air that is rising
from Earth’s surface
can only reach a
certain height, and
then it becomes
trapped under the
inversion.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Radiation
• Radiation is the form of heat transfer that
warms the Earth.
• Different molecules
absorb radiation with
different wavelengths.
• Every object in the
universe emits
radiation as long as
it has a temperature
above absolute zero.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Maintaining Radiation Balance
• The total amount of energy reaching Earth
from the Sun is equal to the amount of energy
leaving Earth.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Greenhouse Gases
• Greenhouse gases such as water vapor,
methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide are
responsible for a large percentage of the
additional warming of Earth’s surface.
• Global warming is the process in which the
average surface temperature increases.
Global
Warming
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Greenhouse Gases (cont.)
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Greenhouse Gases (cont.)
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
What form of heat transfer needs
material through which to travel?
A radiation
B convection
C conduction
D subduction
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
0%
D
0%
C
What condition would exist in a typical
inversion?
A the temperature in the
troposphere decreases
with height
B the temperature in the
troposphere increases
with height
C the temperature in the
stratosphere increases
with height
D the temperature in the
0%
0%
stratosphere decreases
with height
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.2 Energy Transfer in
the Atmosphere
Which of the following is a
greenhouse gas?
A oxygen
B nitrogen
C water vapor
D argon
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.3 Air Currents
wind
updraft
downdraft
Coriolis effect
jet stream
9.3 Air Currents
Local Winds and Eddies
• Wind is air that is in motion relative to the
surface.
• An eddy is a current of air that runs
counter to the main current.
9.3 Air Currents
Uneven Heating of Earth’s Surface
• Uneven heating of Earth’s surface by the
sun causes differences in air pressure
which causes wind.
• Materials on Earth’s surface absorb or
reflect different amounts of sunlight.
9.3 Air Currents
Uneven Heating of Earth’s Surface (cont.)
9.3 Air Currents
Uneven Heating of Earth’s Surface (cont.)
• Differences in
materials on the
Earth’s surface
cause the air to
heat unevenly
resulting in
convection
currents.
9.3 Air Currents
Updrafts
• As land becomes warm, it warms the air
above it.
• An updraft, or thermal, occurs as the air is
heated and it expands becoming less
dense than the surrounding air.
9.3 Air Currents
Downdrafts
• A downdraft, or sinking column of air, occurs
when dense air sinks toward Earth’s surface.
9.3 Air Currents
The Coriolis Effect
• The Coriolis effect is the deflection of
wind caused by Earth’s rotation.
9.3 Air Currents
Global Convection Currents
• In the one cell model,
Earth’s atmosphere
circulated in a large
convection cell in each
hemisphere.
• The three cell model
more accurately
describes Earth’s
atmosphere.
9.3 Air Currents
The Three-Cell Model
First Cell: Hadley Cell
– Between 0º to near 30º latitude
Second Cell: Ferrel Cell
– Between 30º and 60º latitude
Third Cell: Polar Cell
– Between 60º and 90º latitude
9.3 Air Currents
Prevailing Winds
• The global cells in each hemisphere
create northerly and southerly winds.
– Trade winds
– Westerlies
– Polar easterlies
9.3 Air Currents
Jet Streams
• Jet streams are strong, continuous winds
that range from around 200–250 km/h.
– 6-10 km above
Earth’s surface
– polar jet stream
– subtropical jet
stream
9.3 Air Currents
_____ result when a large area of
land absorbs more solar radiation
than the land nearby?
A Downdrafts
B Updrafts
C Coriolis effects
D Trade winds
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.3 Air Currents
What is an eddy?
A winds that result from
uneven surface heating
B air in motion relative to
the Earth’s surface
C air that becomes warmer
than the surrounding air
0%
0%
0%
D
0%
C
D a current of air that
runs counter to the
main current
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
9.3 Air Currents
Air generally moves _____.
A from low to high pressure
B from high to low pressure
C from high to low altitudes
D from east to west
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
Chapter Resources Menu
Chapter Assessment
California Standards Practice
Concepts in Motion
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Interactive Table
Virtual Lab
BrainPOP
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Which is a weather phenomenon
that results from a sinking column
of air?
A jet stream
B hurricane
C Coriolis effect
D downburst
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
What are the names of the two
jet streams?
A subpolar jet and
subtropical jet
B polar jet and
tropical jet
C polar jet and
subtropical jet
0%
0%
D
0%
C
D subpolar jet and
tropical jet
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which phenomenon explains why air
does not travel in a straight line?
A Coriolis effect
B doldrums
C jet stream
D Hadley cell
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
What percentage of incoming solar
radiation reaches the Earth’s
surface?
A 10%
B 25%
C 50%
D 85%
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which of the following has shorter
wavelengths?
A visible light waves
B ultraviolet waves
C Infrared waves
D microwaves
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
SCI 4.a
Sunlight strikes Earth’s
equator _____.
A approximately parallel
to the surface
B approximately
perpendicular to
the surface
C at a low angle
0%
0%
D
D at a 45 angle
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
SCI 4.d
Which best describes the global
wind pattern?
A one cell
B two cell
C three cell
D four cell
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
SCI 4.b
The stratosphere has a
high concentration of which
greenhouse gas?
A carbon dioxide
B water vapor
C methane
D ozone
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
SCI 4.d
How is heat transferred throughout
the atmosphere?
A convection currents
B conduction
C radiation
D Coriolis effect
0%
0%
D
0%
C
0%
B
A
B
C
D
A
1.
2.
3.
4.
SCI 4.d
1. A If air moves from an area of high
2. B pressure to low pressure, what would
3. C be the primary direction of air
movement in a low pressure system?
A inward toward
the center
B outward from
the center
0%
0%
C
A
0%
B
C neither inward
or outward
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