Unit 8.5 Science Test Study Guide

Why do more clouds/rain form over the equator than at the higher latitudes?

As air at the equator heats up, the air molecules along with the water vapor, rise up into the atmosphere. At higher altitudes, the air in the atmosphere is colder. The colder air causes the water vapor to condense and form clouds. At the higher latitudes, the air is colder and more dense, causing the air to sink. The sinking air does not condense into clouds.

How does air density cause VERTICAL (up and down) movement of air?

As air at the surface is heated, the heated air becomes less dense and rises through convection. The air moves into higher altitudes where the air is colder, the colder air is more dense and begins to sink.

How does the air density cause HORIZONTAL (sideways) movement of air?

As air at the surface is heated, the heated air rises through convection. Once that air has risen, the sinking cooler air moves in to replace it (because it flows from an area of high density to one with a lower density).

As the temperature of air increases, what happens to the density of the air? Why does this happen?

As the temperature of the air increases, the molecules of the air start to move faster and become further apart. This causes the air to become less dense and rise in the atmosphere.

As the temperature of water increases, what happens to the density of water? Why does this happen?

As the temperature of the water increases, the molecules of the water start to move faster and become further apart. This causes the water to become less dense and rise.

As the density of air/water changes, it moves from an area of _______ density to an area of ___________ density.

High;low

How are hurricanes impacted by the Coriolis Effect, Prevailing Winds, and Ocean Gyres?

Hurricanes pathways are affected by the Coriolis Effect. The hurricanes will travel in the direction of the prevailing winds in which they are formed. If the prevailing wind is blowing west, the hurricane will travel west. The hurricane can also be impacted by ocean gyres and their rotation causing them to move in the same direction as the gyre. In the northern hemisphere, the hurricane pathway would be clockwise.

What causes the Ocean Gyres?

Ocean Gyres are caused by the Coriolis Effect causing the ocean gyres to rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.

What type of energy do the prevailing winds and ocean gyres transfer?

Prevailing winds and ocean gyres transfer thermal energy. It moves the warmer air water from the equator to the poles and the cold air water from the poles to the equator.

What are the three main types of heat transfer we learned about in this unit? How are they involved in creating the climates of the Earth?

Radiation: We receive radiation from the sun. The radiation is absorbed by the land/water increasing the temperature. Conduction: Conduction occurs when the molecules come into contact with other molecules transferring heat/energy. This occurs on earth when the land/water molecules transfer their energy/heat to the air molecules causing them to increase in temperature. Convection: Convection occurs when the air/liquid molecules have increased in temperature causing them to spread apart and become less dense and rise. This occurs in the oceans and in the atmosphere on earth.

What is Specific Heat Capacity and how does it influence climates in different parts of the world?

Specific heat is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of a substance. Water requires the largest amount of energy to increase its temperature and it will not have drastic changes in temperatures. Land has a low specific heat capacity and will heat up quickly and cool down quickly causing fluctuations in temperatures. Areas along coasts are affected by the oceans and do not have drastic changes in temperatures due to the specific heat of water (oceans). Areas inside continents will have greater fluctuating temperatures due to land heating up and cooling down.

What is the Coriolis Effect and how does it impact the air and water currents on Earth?

The Coriolis Effect is the rotation of the earth on its axis causing the air and water currents to curve to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

Which parts of the Earth experience the most direct sunlight? Which parts experience the least direct sunlight? why?

The areas near/at the equator receive the most direct sunlight. The north and south poles receive the least direct sunlight. This is due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis and the shape of the Earth (spherical). This allows the equator to receive direct sunlight and the poles get the least direct sunlight.

How does solar energy input to Earth's surface change by latitude?.

The equator receives the most direct sunlight and the highest amount of solar energy input. As you move further from the equator, the amount of solar energy will decrease as the sunlight becomes less direct.

How does the salinity of water affect the density? Where on the Earth is the salinity the greatest and how does this influence the currents at that location?

The greater the salinity of water, the greater the density. When salt water freezes, the salt does not freeze causing the remaining water to have a higher salinity and greater density. This water can be found at the poles. The cold, high salinity water will sink to the bottom of the ocean and flow under the warmer water toward the equator causing a convection current.

What causes the prevailing winds within the latitude bands on Earth?

The prevailing winds are caused by convection currents created by differences in density in the air, curved due to the Coriolis effect. (The spinning of the earth causes the winds to curve rather than travel in a straight path.)

Explain how the flow of the currents work in the Ocean.

The warmer, less dense water near the equator moves toward the poles. The cold, more dense water at the poles moves under the warmer water toward the equator.

How does thermal energy flow within a system?

Thermal energy always flows from high to low.

What important feature of the Earth causes the seasons that we experience in Michigan?

We experience seasons in Michigan due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis. In the summer, the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, giving us the most direct sunlight and warmer temperatures. In the winter, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, giving us indirect sunlight and cooler temperatures.