Download The dynamics of the atmosphere

UNIT
6
The Earth’s structure
THE DYNAMICS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE
Natural Science 2. Secondary Education
UNIT
6
The dynamics of the atmosphere
The dynamics of the atmosphere
• Just as movements of rocks occur in the form of convection currents in the
geosphere, movements of air are produced in the atmosphere.
• We call these movements of air “wind”.
2
1
The Sun heats the
surface of the Earth
and the surface
heats the air which it
is contact with. The
hot air becomes
less dense and it
rises.
Natural Science 2. Secondary Education
As the hot air rises, it
displaces the cold air in
the higher layers of the
atmosphere. Because
the cold air is denser, it
sinks towards the
surface.