THE SUN, THE EARTH, AND THE ENERGY IN THE ATMOSPHEREBy: Cristina Andrade

Questions ¿Knows that the Sun is the principle energy source

for phenomena on the Earth’s surface (ex. winds, ocean currents, the water cycle, plant growth)?

¿Knows how the tilt of the Earth’s axis and the Earth’s revolution around the sun affect seasons and weather patterns (ex. Heat falls more intensely on one part or another of the Earth’s surface during its revolution around the sun)?

The Sun The Sun is the most important source of

energy in Earth It gives us clean energy ex: using solar

panels

Sun affects wind Sun heats the atmosphere The atmosphere creates hot air that

goes up and then cold air that goes down, and that creates air currents

Currents move the wind mills that are like turbines.

Sun affects water cycle Evaporation from the sea water by the sun Sun heats water and creates vapor When it rains water goes to the rivers and from the rivers

hydroelectric power is created The suns heat causes water molecules to break apart Heat changes the water into water vapor causing

evaporation.

Sun affects plant growth Light of sun creates photosynthesis Light of the sun transforms water, carbon dioxide,

and minerals into oxygen or glucose and that is called the photosynthesis process.

Photosynthesis cause plants to be green

Sun affects ocean currents The sun heats the atmosphere

creating winds and movement in the sea surface through friction

Wind blows hard that cause movement in the water surface creating ocean currents.

Sun alters density of the ocean surface water by changing its temperature and its salinity

When water is cooler or saltier because of evaporation, density of water increase, and this can result that water can be unstable.

Sun affect seasons Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earths rotational axis

toward the sun as it travels all year long around the sun. Equator don’t have seasons since sun always gives the

same heat Winter- when sun is not there, is very dark Summer- when sun is in front, many light Autumn and spring- sun is in the sides

Pictures seasons

Video If you want to see the video copy

the link and it will take you directly to the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9hawBb3wbk

Wind causes Atmospheric pressure is the main cause of

winds because: Hotter places will have less air pressure because

it has less dense air, and when air is more dense in one spot, and less dense in another, the air wants to balance the pressure so when air moves because of this it causes wind.

Change in temperature since: Air is not heated in the same point with the

same intensity

Wind patterns Wind patterns is also known as general

circulation When the sun heats directly the region is

the equator- sun heats the air and leaves low pressure areas

Winds are affected by the Coriolis effect The area of calm is called doldrums- no

steady surface winds

Wind patterns Wind patterns: Tropical Easterlies: 0-30 degrees latitude-

warm, steady winds that blow almost always. Prevailing Westerlies: 30-60 degrees latitude-

winds that move to the poles curve to the east

Polar Easterlies: 60-90 degrees latitude- join with prevailing westerlies to reduce upward motion, they form when the atmosphere cools from the poles

Energy in the Atmosphere The energy is transferred from the

Atmosphere by three ways: convection, conduction, and radiation

The sun rays take like a 46 percent of energy to the earth

Solar energy is the most important energy since the sun transferred it through the atmosphere and then other types of energy are created

Pictures

Bibliographies "Why Is the Sun the Most Important Source of Energy?"

Answerbag. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1899681>.

 "Why Is the Sun a Major Energy Source?" WikiAnswers. Answers. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_the_sun_a_major_energy_source>.

"Water Encyclopedia." Ocean Currents. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Mi-Oc/Ocean-Currents.html>.

"ELEPHANTS." 2009 April 28 «. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://priya44.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/>.

"Global Wind Patterns: Wind Belts of the General Circulation." Global Wind Patterns: Wind Belts of the General Circulation. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/wwhlpr/global_winds.rxml>.

Bibliographies "SCEL NewsThis Is My School!" SCEL News. Web. 16 May 2012.

<http://scelnews.com/2012/02/all-about-solar-power/>. "The Sun's Energy." The Sun's Energy. Web. 16 May 2012.

<http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/physics/sobel/Nucphys/sun.html>.

HowStuffWorks. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/earth4.htm>.

"What Causes the Seasons?" What Causes the Seasons? Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_causes_the_seasons.htm>.

"The Reasons for the Seasons." The Reasons for the Seasons. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Astro_p033.shtml>.

Rubric  Excellent

4Satisfactory

3Needs

Improvement 2

Not Acceptable

1The Sun and Weather

Describes how the Sun is responsible for these phenomena: wind, ocean currents, water cycle, and plant growth in detail.

Generally explains how the Sun is responsible for these phenomena: wind, ocean currents, water cycle, and plant growth.

Identifies how the Sun is responsible for these phenomena: wind, ocean currents, water cycle, and plant growth.

Not clearly explained.

The Seasons Describes what causes the seasons in detail.

Generally explains what causes the seasons.

Identifies what causes the seasons.

Not clearly explained.

Energy in the Atmosphere

Describes energy interactions that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere in detail.

Generally explains energy interactions that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Identifies energy interactions that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Not clearly explained.

Wind Describes the causes and patterns of wind in detail.

Generally explains the causes and patterns of wind

Identifies the causes and patterns of wind

Not clearly explained.

Overall appearance, neatness, and creativity of Product

The product has a neat appearance and shows creativity and considerable effort.

The product has a neat appearance and shows creativity and good effort.

The product somewhat neat and is of low creativity and/or effort.

The product does not show any effort to be creative or different.