Climate Change and Solar Energy
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).
SNC 2D
•
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 the seasons.
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 _____________ throughout the 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.
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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
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The Greenhouse Effect
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DATE:
CHAPTER 7
NAME:
Specific Heat Capacity of
Earth’s Materials
Goal • To examine how different materials absorb and release electromagnetic radiation.
CLASS:
BLM 7-6
DATE:
CHAPTER 7
NAME:
Specific Heat Capacity of
Earth’s Materials
CLASS:
BLM 7-6
(continued)