Weather

• The sun's energy travels through millions of miles in the form of radiation.
• Conduction is the transfer of heat that occurs when heated molecules come into contact with cooler molecules.
• The last type of heat transfer is convenction.
• Convection works when a liquid or gas is unevenly heated. The warmer section of the material will rise while the cooler part sinks.
• The rising and sinking of temperature in air and water happens because of the difference in density.
• Warmer material is less dense because the particles are more spread out and cooler material is more dense because the particles are closer together.
• Radiant energy reaches Earth in the form of both visible and invisible electromagnetic waves.
• Earth's atmosphere maintains its warmth by absorbing, storing, and recycling solar energy.
• Some of the energy that reaches Earth's surface is either absorbed and radiated as heat or is reflected.
• Carbon dioxide makes up a small percentage of the atmosphere (0.03%). ( plays an important role in the way our atmosphere functions )
• CO2 and other atmospheric gases are called greenhouse gases.
• Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) , methane (CH4 ) , nitrous oxide ( NO ), chlorofluorocarbons ( CFC ), and water vapor.
• Chlorofluorocarbons are chemicals that contain the elements chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
• When greenhouse gases are released, they deplete the ozone layer of the atmosphere. All of these gases trap heat near the Earth's surface, which can raise the mean global temperature of the Earth.
• The process of heat being trapped is called the greenhouse effect and is necessary in order for Earth's atmosphere to hold heat.
• The gradual increase in global temperature is called global warming and could result in decreased rainfall, hotter summers, and eventual melting of the polar ice caps.
• Weather is a term that describes the current temperature, wind, precipitation and other atmospheric conditions at any given time.
• The long term average weather of an area is called climate.
• Latitude, or the distance north or south of the equator, determines the amount and angle of sunlight an area receives.
• Altitude, or distance above sea level, affects the temperature and pressure of the air and, as a result, the temperature.
• Topography, or land features such as mountain, influences weather in a region by altering factors such as temperature, air pressure and rainfall.
• Ocean currents introduce microclimates based on the origin of the current.

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  EX: warm body of water can warm the air

  EX: cooler body of water can cool the air
• Distances from large bodies of water will affect the average rainfall of an area.
• The upward movement of warm air above a heat source, like a candle, causes cooler air to move in and take its place. This forms a convection current.
• As air is moving through the atmosphere, the path the air travels is changed due to the rotation of the Earth. This deflection of air is known as the Coriolis effect.
• Wins bend to the right and rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, the rotation is counterclockwise and winds bend to the left.
• The trade winds are located between the equator and 30 North and 30 South. They flow from the east to the west.
• The westerlies are winds between 30 and 60 north and south of the equator. These winds blow from the west to the east.
• The doldrums are located 5 North and 5 South of the equator.
• The Jet Stream is a current of air that flows in the upper atmosphere. It blows from west to east and is constantly shifting from north to south.
• The Jet Stream helps to regulate the seasonal temperatures on Earth.
• The warmer air is less dense and rises while the cooler, denser air moves in from the water causing a sea breeze.
• At night, the air over land cools more quickly, reversing the process and causing a land breeze.
• Ocean Currents are one of the main controls that influence weather.
• Currents are created when winds move across the surface of the oceans.
• There are two types of surface currents based on temperature; warm surface currents and cold surface currents.
• Warm surface currents originate at or towards the equator.
• Cold surface currents originate near the poles and flow towards the equator.
• Ocean currents rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.