The Earth and Climate Change

Climate Change and Solar Energy SNC 2D

The most important factor that affects the climate on Earth is the Sun.
Solar energy travels through space as ______and ______. The intensity of the energy that reaches Earth’s surface affects the ______of air, water and land on the planet. Heat produces winds, rain and other features of ______.
The amount of solar energy that reaches Earth depends on ______activity, the shape of the Earth and the ______of the Earth.
Changes in Solar Activity
The Sun produces a ______amount of energy. When the number of sunspots is ______, the Sun emits ______amounts of solar radiation. Some scientists believe that changes in solar ______are the main cause of climate change in the past. /

The Earth and Climate Change

Movements of Earth in Space

Rotation vs Revolution
•Earth ______once every _____ hours around its axis, an ______line that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole through the center of the Earth. /
•The Earth also ______(orbits) around the ______over a 365 day period (1 year). /
•Another important detail is that the Earth’s axis of rotation is ______at an angle of about ______perpendicular to the orbital plane. /

Earth’s Seasons

The seasons are created by Earth’s ______and its tilted ______.

Changes in Rotation, Orbit & Tilt

Variations in Earth’s ______, tilt and rotation occur over ______, which can explain large patterns of ______over a long time. It does not explain all of the recent changes that have been ______and ______.

Eccentricity

Earth’s orbit fluctuates due to the ______attraction of other planets in the solar system. Its path around the Sun ______very slowly from elliptical to circular. This affects the ______of theseasons.

elliptical orbit – planet receives ______solar radiation when ______the Sun than it does when it is ______from the Sun
circular orbit – amount of solar radiation varies ______throughoutthe year /

Earth’s Tilt

The Earth’s tilt changes ______over time. The greater the tilt the greater the differences in ______between summer and winter. /

Wobble

Earth is not a perfect ______. It wobbles slightly as it ______on its axis. The wobble affects the intensity of ______energy that is received by the northern and southern hemispheres at ______times of the year. The variation decides if the two hemispheres have ______temperature differences between seasons or whether one hemisphere has ______temperature differences between seasons than the other.

Effect of Latitude on Climate and Seasons

The sun’s rays are most ______at the equator, where they hit the Earth ______to its surface.
As the Sun’s position in the sky lowers the sunlight received ______.
At latitude of 45 o south, the Sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface at an ______and as a result the rays are spread over a larger area. The Earth here receives ______solar energy because it is more ______.
At the poles, the Sun’s rays are ______over an even larger area. /

Winds and Energy SNC 2D

______is the movement of air from an area of ______pressure to an area of ______pressure. The air moves as wind transfers ______around the world from ______areas to ______areas.

The movement of air affects: • ______currents • ______patterns

Wind is caused by ______heating of Earth’s surface.

• wind moves energy from ____________areas
• air moves from ______pressure_____ pressure
• air moves from ____________areas

*** Winds disperse ______through the atmosphere.

Winds and Ocean Currents

When winds blow, ______is transferred to the surface of the ocean and causes the water to move in surface ocean ______. Since oceans absorb energy from the Sun, the movement of water transfers ______around the Earth’s surface.

Prevailing Winds

Winds blow in fairly ______directions around the world. These are known as ______.

Winds Affect Precipitation

As air masses of different ______move across the Earth’s surface, they ______. When air masses meet (called a ______), one air mass usually ______over the other. The rising air cools and any water vapour in the air ______to form ______.

Winds also affect precipitation through ______. Jet streams are high-altitude ______that travel long distances at very high ______.

These winds may carry ______, moist air, which can produce ______in areas from the origin of the jet stream. They may also carry ______, cool air, which causes dry weather in areas affected by the jet stream. Canada’s weather is mostly influenced by the ______jet stream.

How Moving Contients Affect Climate SNC 2D

•Earth’s outer layer is made of massive pieces of solid rock, called ______. Earth has about ____ major plates that move at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

•The plates carry the ______with them as they move. This means that the shape of the oceans and continents is always ______.

•Patterns of ______ and ______circulation are affected which in turn affects the ______around the world. The formation of mountain chains also affects the patterns of ______and ______around the globe.

Upthrusting and Weathering

Upthrusting mountain ranges expose minerals to ______. (Weathering is the ______down of Earth's rocks, soils and minerals through direct contact with the planet's ______. ) The exposed ______change chemically into carbonates. This process removes ______from the atmosphere and ______ the Earth.

Volcanic Eruptions

•Most volcanoes are located at the ______of tectonic plates. Plate movement affects climate by producing ______. In these areas, molten rock and gases from below the Earth’s crust rise up through ______in the rock and spew into the air as volcanic ______.

Particles called ______(such as ash) are released into the atmosphere

Aerosols

•reflect solar radiation and have a ______ effect on the global climate

•scatter ______

•Some volcanic eruptions can raise global temperatures by releasing greenhouse ______.

SNC 2D

How the Atmosphere Affects Climate

______

______

The Greenhouse Effect

______
______/
Date:Name:Class:
chapter 7 / Specific Heat Capacity of
Earth’s Materials / BLM 7-6
Goal•To examine how different materials absorb and release electromagnetic radiation.
Date:Name:Class:
chapter 7 / Specific Heat Capacity of
Earth’s Materials / BLM 7-6
(continued)