4.2- greenhouse effect, wind systems, ocean currents, photo syn and cell resp

greenhouse effect

process where heat is trapped near Earth's surface by substances known as greenhouse gases.

possibilities of effect

solar energy:

-passes through the atmosphere

-reflected by earth and atmosphere

-is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions by greenhouse molecules

greenhouse gas

substances that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming

ex. of natural gases

water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide

water vapour

evaporation from water

carbon dioxide

released when fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) are burned

nitrous oxide

enters atmosphere when fertilizer is applied to crops

methane

released in large amounts by herds of cattle

-cow farts

earths climate

excess release of greenhouse gases can impact the earths climate

solar energy

-strikes earth at different angles

-receives more solar energy at lower latitudes like mexico so the atmosphere heats up unevenly (lower latitudes become warmer)

global wind systems (3)

trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies

-moves thermal energy around earth and distribute more evenly throughout the atmosphere

what does wind result from

unequal heating of earths surface

wind impact

-redistrubutes thermal energy around earth

-warm air near earths surface rises and cools

-cool air is denser and sinks, creating wind that move warm and cool air around earth

major wind systems result from...

convection currents and coriolis effect

coriolis effect

a change in direction of moving air, water or objects due to earths rotation

trade winds

-move east to west

-warm air at the equator is less dense so it rises and move north or south

-at north or south, it becomes cooler and more dense so it ‘sinks’

-the wind moves west due to earths rotation

-middle of diagram

westerlies

-move west to east

-steady winds move much of weather across america

-outer middle on the diagram (outside trade winds)

polar easterlies

-move east to west

-move cold air from polar regions back toward equator

-wind from the top and bottom of earth in the diagram

what also moves thermal energy

ocean currents

ocean current

-created by wind

-warm and cold currents

warm current

move heat (warm water from equator) towards poles (higher, colder latitudes)

cold currents

bring cold water from colder, higher latitudes to tropical regions

great ocean conveyer belt

massive system of deep-water currents that moves deep water, thermal energy and nutrients around earth

movement of currents is based on difference between .. and ...

temperature and salt content of water

-cold water is more dense than warm water

-saltier water is more dense than less salty water

movement of nutrients

-moves nitrogen and phosphorus around ocean

-surface water that sinks doesnt have many nutrients

-after water sinks, bacteria in deep water break down organic material and return nutrients to water

-when deep water returns to surface, it has high concentration of nutrients

photosynthesis

plants capture sunlight and turn into chemical energy

-use carbon dioxide and water

-turned into glucose and oxygen

photosyn formula

co2 + h2o = c6 h12 o6 + o2

cell resp

a process that converts sugar and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water

cell resp formula

-opposite of photosyn

c6 h12 o6 + o2 = co2 + h2o

how they balance each other

-each process makes raw material that the other uses to store/release energy

-photosyn stores while cell resp releases energy

-photosyn uses carbon dioxide and water, and produces glucose and oxygen

-cell resp uses glucose and oxygen, and produces carbon dioxide and water