Upload
stephen-garrison
View
215
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Weather
WeatherWater Cycle: the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, the land, and the oceans
Evaporation occurs when solar energy heats water molecules, and they rise as gaseous water vapor.
transpiration: the process by which plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves
precipitation: any form of water that falls to Earth’s surface from the clouds
WeatherAir PressureThe barometric pressure,
also called atmospheric pressure or air pressure, is the pressure that results from the weight of a column of air extending from the top of the thermosphere to the point of measurement.
Changes in barometric pressure often accompany changes in the weather.
Weather〉Differences in air
pressure cause air to move creating winds.pressure gradient: a
difference in air pressure from one place to another
The air in a pressure gradient moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
wind: the movement of air from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area
WeatherCoriolis effect: the
curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to Earth’s rotationPoints at different latitudes
on Earth’s surface move at different speeds. Earth goes through a full
rotation in 24 hours.
Points on the equator travel the Earth’s full circumference in 24 hours.
Points closer to the poles do not travel as far.
WeatherPredictable air circulation
forms wind patterns.Winds in the Northern
Hemisphere curve clockwise.
Winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve counterclockwise.
The resulting patterns are very regular, and have been named by meteorologists.Polar easterliesWesterliesNortheast trade windsSoutheast trade winds