Convection Currents

Convection Currents

Turns out they aren't just in the Earth's Mantle!

Learning Objective:

• We will recognize that the Sun provides the energy that drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.

Multiple Choice

Convection Currents cause daily patterns of clouds, wind, precipitation, and air pressure.

• True

• False

Poll

Did you notice the difference between the Day and Night Cycles of Convection Currents?

• Yes

• No

Day Cycle

What do you notice?

Multiple Choice

What provides the energy to create warmth during the day?

• The Moon

• The Stars

• The Sun

Multiple Choice

What happens to warm air?

• It rises.

• It blows towards the coast.

• It sinks.

Night Cycle

What do you notice?

Multiple Choice

What happens to cold air?

• It rises.

• It blows towards the coast.

• It sinks.

Multiple Choice

What happens to the Convection Cycle during the night?

• It reverses from the cycle during the day.

• The heat is provided by the Moon.

• The wind stops blowing.

Atmospheric Convection

What do you notice?

Multiple Choice

When the sun heats the ground:

• Radiation

• Convection

• Conduction

Multiple Choice

When the ground heats the air:

• Radiation

• Convection

• Conduction

Multiple Choice

When warm air rises:

• Radiation

• Convection

• Conduction

Poll

Does air density play a role in Atmospheric Convection?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Do Convection Currents flow within the Earth's oceans?

• Yes

• No

Ocean Currents

What do you notice?

Multiple Choice

Where is the cold, salty water?

• Deep in the ocean

• Shallow surface water

Multiple Choice

Warm, shallow ocean currents are by the Poles.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What happens to ocean currents at the Equator?

• The water warms at the surface.

• The water moves poleward.

• The water losses heat.