The Sun's Energy

Radiation

transfer of energy through waves; can transfer heat w/o touching another object; can travel through empty space.

Conduction

transfer of energy through direct contact; in order for heat/other energy to move from one object to another, the two objects must be touching

Convection

transfer of energy through a fluid; Heat transfer caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluids & the falling of cooler, more dense fluids; the 2 fluids are air and liquid.

Coriolis Effect

the effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds/currents

Currents

a large steam of moving water that flaws through the oceans

Wind

natural movement of air from high density and pressure to areas of low density and pressure

The amount of _______ _________ that any specific part of the Earth receives depends on its angle in relation to the Sun.

radient energy

The _______________ __________ has the hottest and most consistent temp. all yr long

equatorial region

The equatorial region receives….

the most direct sunlight due to the angle that the sun hits it all yr long

__________ _________ receive much less direct sunlight.

Polar regions

What causes the difference between the regions?

The tilt of Earth’s axis(during 1st half of yr, the earth is tilted toward the sun and during the 2nd half, it’s away from the sun)

Wind is caused in part by ______________ ____________ (thermal energy absorption) in the atmosphere both locally & at more extremes at Earth’s poles and equator.

differential heating

__________, less dense air has less air pressure than __________, denser air.

Warmer; Cooler

Differences in air pressure result in…

movement of air/wind

_______ pressure air masses push ____ pressure air masses.

High; low

Wind moves by ____________ __________ through the atmosphere.

convection currents

Wind is affected by…

the rotation of Earth on its axis. (Coriolis Effect)

____ __________ is the force exerted by the atmosphere on Earth’s surface by the weight of the air above.

Air pressure

Thee higher you go above Earth’s surface, the _______ the air pressure is.

lower

Areas of ________ ____ _________ move into areas of ________ ____ ________ pushing air masses around.

higher air pressure; lower air pressure