Energy in the Atmosphere

Think About It
Do you like to go to the beach? Why do you bring sunscreen or an umbrella with you?
Why does the sand feel warmer than the water on your feet?

Image Source: Pixabay

Matter and
Energy
Energy can be transferred in various ways and between
objects. As you read this section, think about how the
Sun provides energy to Earth and the different ways the
atmosphere transfers that energy.

The Sun is the source of almost all energy on Earth, but it does not heat Earth evenly.
Watch, “Land and Water” by Crash Course Kids to learn why. Think about the following
questions as you watch.

 How much of the Sun's energy makes it to the land and to the water on
Earth?
 How do land and water absorb and reflect sunlight differently?

Video: Land and Water

Source: CrashCourse Kids
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Video Transcript

Try It
You know that energy comes from the Sun. But do you know if there are different ways
to make the same energy transfer more efficiently than other ways?
On a warm, sunny day, try melting 5 similar-sized ice cubes in 5 different ways. Perhaps
place one on concrete in the sunshine, or one in shadows. Maybe wrap one in aluminum
foil, or one in black plastic. Check the ice cubes once a minute, and see if they melt at
the same rate or not.
Question: Can the Same Energy be Transferred at Different Rates?

Ice
Melting
Cub Results
Method
e

Energy from the Sun

The Sun is the source of almost all energy on Earth. How does the Sun’s energy get to
Earth? Energy from the sun reaches Earth through the process of radiation. Radiation
is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. The total range of electromagnetic
waves is called the electromagnetic spectrum. Energy from the Sun has a wide range
of wavelengths, but 99% of the heating of Earth is in the form of infrared, visible light,
and ultraviolet light.
Directions: Click on the plus-signs in the picture below to learn more about each type of
radiation.
The radiation from the Sun is either absorbed by the atmosphere or Earth’s surface or
reflected by the atmosphere and clouds into space. The heat absorbed and radiated in
the atmosphere is the greenhouse effect and it helps to keep Earth warm. The
greenhouse effect allows Earth to have temperatures that can support life.
Gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. They include
carbon dioxide and water vapor. Human actions have increased the levels of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The added gases have caused a greater
greenhouse effect because they change the rate of thermal energy transfer. How do you
think this affects Earth’s temperature?

Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.

Try It
In Science 6A, you learned about how thermal (heat) energy is transferred. Take a
moment to review the three forms of energy transfer that occur in the atmosphere and
everyday life. Read through the statements below and determine if they are describing
conduction, convection, or radiation.
Energy Movement in the Atmosphere
There are three ways that energy moves through Earth’s atmosphere: conduction,
convection, and radiation.

Image Source: [Link] to an external site.

Conduction: In conduction, heat is transferred between objects by direct contact.

Warmer objects have particles that vibrate faster than cooler ones. They bump into the
cooler particles. When they do they transfer some of their energy. Conduction happens
mainly near Earth’s surface. Can you explain why? Air is more dense so the gas
particles are closer together and more likely to come into contact with each other.
 Image Source: Mizzou Academy

Convection: Convection is the transfer of heat by a current in a liquid or gas.

Convection currents are caused by the unequal heating of the Earth’s atmosphere. As
air near the ground is warmed, it becomes less dense, so it rises. As it rises, it cools.
The cool air is dense, so it sinks to the surface. This creates a convection current.
Convection is the most important way that heat travels in the atmosphere.

Radiation: Radiation is the transfer of energy by waves. The Sun’s energy moves
energy through earth’s space in waves, to heat the Earth’s surface. After sunlight heats
the planet's surface, some heat radiates back into the atmosphere.

Try It
You can model convection currents at home. Watch the following video to see a
demonstration using water. If you have the supplies, try repeating it home. After
watching, make a labeled drawing to represent what happened.

Video: Radiation and heat transfer in the atmosphere

Source: MooMoo Math and Science

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Video Transcript

Watch It
Review the three forms of energy transfer by watching, “Radiation and Heat Transfer in
the Atmosphere” by MooMoo Math and Science.

Video: Convection Current Demonstrations

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Video Transcript

Practice It
Answer the following questions to check your understanding.

Air Currents

Think About It
In Section 7.1, you learned that the troposphere is where weather occurs. In this section,
you will start to learn why this happens. Look through the following photos. Write a
response to the questions below about the images pictured.
What inferences can you make from these pictures?
How do you think the Sun causes this to happen?

Stability and Changes in one system may cause changes in another larger
Change system. Even when systems change, there are stable
patterns that occur. As you read, think about how changes
on land and water can cause changes in pressure and wind.
Also, think about how winds have stable and predictable
patterns.

Explore It
Jet streams are fast-moving, narrow currents of air flowing through the atmosphere of a
planet. Watch the animations below to observe the jet streams as they move around the
Northern Hemisphere.
 Analysis:

1. What patterns do you notice in the flow of the jet streams?

2. How does the perspective of the jet stream as seen from above the North
Pole differ from the perspective above North America or Asia?
3. Write down three things you would like to know and research about jet
streams. What do you want to know more about?

Global Winds
Why does air move? It moves because of differences in heating. The Sun does not
warm Earth evenly because it hits the Earth at different angles. More sunlight reaches
Earth’s surface at the equator than at the poles. The air on the ground is also warmer.
The warm air rises because it is less dense. The light, rising air creates an area of low
air pressure at the surface. The rising air cools as it reaches the top of the troposphere.
The air gets denser, so it sinks to the surface. The sinking, heavy air creates an area of
high air pressure near the ground. Areas near the equator are warm so air pressure is
low, while areas near the poles are cold so air pressure is high. Wind is the movement
of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.

Image Source: Mizzou Academy

Global winds are winds that occur in belts that go all around the planet. You can see
them in the figure below. Global winds are caused by unequal heating of the
atmosphere by the Sun.
Earth is hottest at the equator and gets cooler toward the poles. Hot air near the equator
rises up to the troposphere. It moves North or South toward lower pressures. By the
time the moving air reaches 30° N or S latitude, it has cooled. The cool air sinks to the
surface. Then it flows over the surface back to the equator. However, it is not this
simple. Global winds do not move directly from north to south or south to north because
the Earth also rotates. All winds in the Northern Hemisphere appear to curve to the right
as they move. In the southern hemisphere, winds appear to curve to the left. This is
known as the Coriolis effect. The combination of high and low-pressure changes and
the Coriolis effect creates distinct wind patterns in global cells.

Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.

There are three enormous global wind belt cells north of the equator and three south of
the equator.

 Trade winds: steady winds that flow east to west between the equator
and 30 N and 30 S latitude
o o

 Westerlies: steady winds that flow west to east between 30 N and 60 N o o

and 30 S and 60 N
o o

 Polar easterlies: cold winds that blow from east to west near the North
and South poles
 Image Source: [Link] to an external site.

Another type of global wind is jet streams. In the Explore It activity, you observed these
winds. Jet streams are fast-moving air currents high in the troposphere. They are also
the result of unequal heating of the atmosphere. Jet streams circle the planet, mainly
from west to east. The strongest jet streams are the polar jets.

Try It
In this activity, you will model the Coriolis effect. Gather the following particles and
complete the procedure. Draw your results below. How does rotating the paper change
the path of your marker?

Materials:

 spinning stool or plate

 large piece of paper
 marker
 ruler

Directions

1. Choose a stool or surface that spins easily.

2. Cut out a paper circle (at least 20 cm diameter).
3. Make a mark in the center of the circle to represent the north pole; the edge
of the paper represents the equator.
4. Using the rule as a guide, draw a straight path from the north pole to the
equator.
5. Repeat step #4, but this time spin the stool counterclockwise at a slow
constant rate while guiding the marker along the ruler.
6. On the circle below, show the two paths that you drew on the large circle of
paper. How do these lines represent the Corialis effect?

Results

Land and Sea Breezes

Local winds are winds that blow over a limited area. Like global winds, local winds also
occur because of differences in air pressure, but they are influenced by local geography.
Nearness to an ocean, lake or mountain range can affect local winds.
 Image Source: WikimediaLinks to an external site.

If you’ve ever spent time near an ocean beach, you may notice it may be windier. Water
is slower to warm up and cool down than land. This causes differences in temperature
and pressure between the land and water. These differences in heating cause local
winds known as land and sea breezes.

 A sea breeze blows from sea to land during the day or in summer.
That’s when air over the land is warmer than air over the water. The
warm air rises. Cool air from over the water flows in to take its place.
 A land breeze blows from land to sea during the night or in winter.
That’s when air over the water is warmer than air over the land. The
warm air rises. Cool air from the land flows out to take its place.

Watch It
What are air currents? Now that you’ve learned about global and local winds, watch
“Current Events” by Crash Course Kids to learn more about these moving cells of wind.

Video: Current Events

Source: CrashCourse Kids

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Video Transcript
Practice It
Answer the following questions to check your understanding.