Energy in Earth's Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

TEKS 8.10A

Energy in Earth’s
Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

KEY IDEAS

•How does energy from the sun warm Earth?

•How does solar energy interact with the atmosphere?

•How does solar energy interact with the hydrosphere?

•How do solar energy, the atmosphere, and the
hydrosphere influence weather and climate?

Words to Know

solar energy

latitude

current

weather

climate

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Copyright © Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved. Savvas is not responsible for any modifications made by end users to the content posted in its original format.

How does energy from the sun warm
Earth?

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How does energy from the sun warm
Earth? continued

Electromagnetic waves from
the sun radiate to Earth as
solar energy.

Due to Earth’s tilt and curved
surface, the planet is unevenly
heated by the sun. Areas near
the equator receive more solar
energy than areas near the
poles, which are at a higher
latitude. Latitudes are
imaginary lines running around
Earth that indicate how far from
the equator a location is.

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Solar Energy and Earth

Describe Rewrite each false statement so that it is true.

1. All locations on Earth receive the same amount of solar energy.

2. Near the poles, sunlight strikes Earth directly.

3. Earth is heated unevenly because it rotates on its axis.

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Solar Energy and Earth Answers

Describe Rewrite each false statement so that it is true.

1. All locations on Earth receive the same amount of solar energy.

Locations on Earth receive different amounts of solar energy.

2. Near the poles, sunlight strikes Earth directly.

Near the poles, sunlight strikes Earth at an angle.

3. Earth is heated unevenly because it rotates on its axis.

Earth is heated unevenly because it is a curved sphere.

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How does solar energy interact with
the atmosphere?

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How does solar energy interact with
the atmosphere? continued

Earth’s surface absorbs
energy from the sun and
gets warmer. It transfers
heat to the air above.
Warm air expands, and
this less dense air rises.
The rising air cools,
becomes denser, and then
sinks. This results in
convection currents.

Convection currents drive
the movement of air in the
atmosphere.

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Solar Energy and the Atmosphere

THEME Cause and Effect Use the numbers 1–4 to sequence
the process of convection currents in Earth’s atmosphere.

The less dense air begins to rise.

Air becomes denser and begins to sink.

Air is warmed and expands.

As it rises, the air begins to cool.

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Solar Energy and the Atmosphere Answers

THEME Cause and Effect Use the numbers 1–4 to sequence
the process of convection currents in Earth’s atmosphere.

2

The less dense air begins to rise.

4

Air becomes denser and begins to sink.

1

Air is warmed and expands.

3

As it rises, the air begins to cool.

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How does solar energy interact with the
hydrosphere?

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How does solar energy interact with the
hydrosphere? continued

Ocean currents are large streams of moving water that carry
water from one place to another. Some currents move water at
the surface, while others move water deep in the ocean. The
currents redistribute cold water from the poles and warm water
from the equator around the planet.

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How do solar energy, the atmosphere, and
the hydrosphere influence weather and
climate?

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How do solar energy, the atmosphere, and
the hydrosphere influence weather and
climate? continued

Weather is the conditions in the atmosphere at a given
place and time. Climate is the average annual conditions
of temperature, wind, rain or snow, and clouds in an area.

1

2

3

4

5

4

5

1
Continental — temperature of
warmest month is above 10°C,
but below 10°C in coldest month

2

Tropical — temperature of
coolest month 18°C or higher

Dry — conditions where
evaporation is greater
than rainfall or snowfall

4

Temperate — temperature of
warmest month greater than or
equal to 10°C, and temperature
of coldest month less than 18°C
but greater than –3°C

5

Polar — temperature
of warmest month less
than 10°C

1

4

5

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Solar Energy and Climate

Identify Complete the sentences using words from the bank.

Word Bank

tropical

dry

temperate

polar

1. Desert regions, which get little rain, are

examples of a

climate.

2. Most areas near the equator have a

climate.

3. An area with a

climate

experiences the greatest range of

temperatures during the year.

4. A

climate has the coldest

temperatures during the year.

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Solar Energy and Climate Answers

Identify Complete the sentences using words from the bank.

Word Bank

1. Desert regions, which get little rain, are

examples of a

dry

climate.

2. Most areas near the equator have a

tropical

climate.

3. An area with a temperate

climate

experiences the greatest range of

temperatures during the year.

4. A

polar

climate has the coldest

temperatures during the year.

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Exit Ticket

Choose one of the following ways to describe
how solar energy interacts with the atmosphere
and hydrosphere to influence weather and
climate on Earth.

1.

Develop a flow chart to explain how solar
energy results in surface currents carrying
warm water away from the equator.

2.

Draw a diagram of Earth with labels and
captions to explain why Earth is not heated
evenly by solar energy.