Atmospheric Movement Lesson

ATMOSPHERIC MOTION

SC.6.E.7.5 Explain how energy provided by the Sun influences global patterns of
atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land.

Essential Question: How does energy
move predictably between land, water and
the air above it?

I DO GUIDED NOTES

RADIATION

Electromagnetic Waves from the Sun travel through our atmosphere and hit
the surface (land, water)

CONDUCTION

The transfer of heat energy by two or
more objects in contact with each other.


▪The hot land warms the air it touches above it
▪The warm water warms the air it touches above it.

CONVECTION

The transfer of energy through the movement of

hot or cool fluids (air and water).

▪Hot air rises - it is less dense - the molecules are further apart - low pressure.
▪Cool air sinks - it is more dense - the molecules are closer together - high pressure.

▪Differences in temperature and air
pressure cause wind - air moves from high pressure to low pressure.

SEA BREEZE

▪During the day, the land is HOTTER than the ocean.

▪A breeze moves from the cool air over water (HIGH pressure) to the warm air over land (LOW pressure).

LAND BREEZE

▪At night, the ocean is WARMER than the land.
▪A breeze moves from the cool air over land (HIGH pressure) to the warm air over the ocean (LOW pressure).

SPECIFIC HEAT

▪How quickly a substance absorbs
and gives off heat.
▪Land absorbs/releases heat very quickly.
▪Water absorbs/releases heat very slowly.

WE DO COLLABORATIVE
ACTIVITY

Multiple Choice

What part of the atmosphere features convection cells, wind, clouds, and weather?

• the thermosphere

• the stratosphere

• the mesosphere

• the troposphere

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the effect whereby moving air and water currents bend to the right in the Northern hemisphere because of Earth's rotation?

• Hadley

• Coriolis

• Cumulonimbus

• Convection

Multiple Choice

Air that is warmer than the air surrounding it

• rises

• sinks

• stays where it is

Multiple Choice

Air that is cooler than the air surrounding it

• rises

• sinks (descends)

• stays where it is

Multiple Choice

Rising air leads to ____ pressure at ground level

• High

• Low

Multiple Choice

Descending air leads to ____ pressure at ground level

• High

• Low

Multiple Choice

The jet streams

• All flow in the same direction, from west to east

• Flow in different directions depending if they are north or south of the equator

• Flow in different directions depending if they are above rising or falling air

• All flow in the same direction, from east to west

Multiple Choice

Winds blow

• From regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure

• From regions of low pressure to regions of high pressure

• In ways that are impossible to predict

• Always from north to south

Multiple Choice

The trade winds are

• The area close to the equator where rising air leaves ships stranded

• Wind belts north and south of the equator, blowing from the northeast and southeast

• Prevailing west winds in the mid latitudes

• Extremely cold air blowing down from the poles

Multiple Choice

Westerlies are

• People who traveled Westward in the pioneer days

• People from the coastal states of California, Oregon, and Washington

• Prevailing winds at the mid latitudes (the Ferrel cells)

• Fast-moving currents of air high in the troposphere

Multiple Choice

How do winds spin in the Northern hemisphere hurricanes?

• clockwise

• counter-clockwise

• eastward

• westward