The document discusses how air circulation relates to the Earth system through the transfer of energy and matter. It explains that wind transfers thermal energy from warm to cool places, cycling matter like particles, water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus around the globe. Wind carries these materials through convection currents that form as warm air rises and cool air sinks. The thermal energy from the sun is transferred through radiation, conduction and convection within the atmosphere and drives global wind patterns.
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students module e unit 1 lesson 1 exploration 3 relating air circulation to the earth system
The document discusses how air circulation relates to the Earth system through the transfer of energy and matter. It explains that wind transfers thermal energy from warm to cool places, cycling matter like particles, water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus around the globe. Wind carries these materials through convection currents that form as warm air rises and cool air sinks. The thermal energy from the sun is transferred through radiation, conduction and convection within the atmosphere and drives global wind patterns.
The document discusses how air circulation relates to the Earth system through the transfer of energy and matter. It explains that wind transfers thermal energy from warm to cool places, cycling matter like particles, water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus around the globe. Wind carries these materials through convection currents that form as warm air rises and cool air sinks. The thermal energy from the sun is transferred through radiation, conduction and convection within the atmosphere and drives global wind patterns.
Unit 1 Lesson 1 Exploration 3 Relating Air Circulation to the Earth System Moving Air- Wind ● Moving air also transfers energy.
● Transfer of energy by wind is an important factor in Earth’s weather.
● Warm wind warms cool
places and cool wind is warmed by warm places Cycling of matter in the atmosphere ● Wind picks up particles moves them to a different place, and deposits them. ● Winds can move many types of matter, both living and nonliving. ○ For example, a slight breeze will move only very light matter, such as a feather, but hurricane winds or tornadoes can move cars, cows, and other large objects. Components of air - Water ● One of the components of air is water ● Water vapor enters the atmosphere from Earth’s surface an is carried by wind from one place to another ● Water falling from clouds in the form of precipitation ● It also flows across Earth’s surface, soaks into the ground, and forms rivers and lakes. ● Some of this water will enter the atmosphere once again. ● Water continuously cycles in the Earth system. Components of air- Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus ● Important substances that are cycled in the atmosphere are carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. ● Plants use carbon in the form of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. ● Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere when fossil fuels burn or when volcanoes erupt. ● Nitrogen is also released when fossil fuels burn, and when bacteria break down organic matter. ○ Plants use nitrogen to make molecules called proteins. ○ Animals use these molecules to build body structures. ● As living organisms excrete waste or die and decompose phosphorus is released into soil and water. Components of air- organic matter
● Some living things, such as
bacteria, and the remains of once-living organisms can be carried by winds. ● The same is true for debris, such as ash or other pollutants. ● Like most of the things carried by wind, you cannot see many of these materials unless they form a dense enough cloud. 2 Types of Energy Flow in the atmosphere
Transfer of Thermal Energy
Transfer of Thermal Energy
Transfer of Thermal Energy
● Thermal energy is the energy we sometimes think of as heat.
● It is the energy a substance has because of the motion of the particles in the substance. ● Almost all energy on Earth comes directly or indirectly from the sun.
● The flow of air due to differences in density is an example of
convection. Convection can also be thought of as the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter Radiation
● Radiation is the transfer
of energy by waves ● When the sun’s energy is absorbed by Earth’s surface, the surface becomes warmer than the air above it. Conduction
● The transfer that happens
when particles touch and transfer energy is called conduction. Convection ● The flow of air due to differences in density is an example of convection. ● Convection can also be thought of as the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter ● As air particles warm, the particles move farther apart, become less dense, and begin to rise. Convection is the transfer of heat by the flow of material. Warm air = molecules far apart; low air pressure; lower density
Cool air = molecules close together;
high air pressure; higher density Transfer of Thermal Energy
● Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
● For example: ○ kinetic energy of wind is transferred to ocean water and creates waves and surface currents. ○ kinetic energy of the wind also moves material, such as the sand making sand dunes, and changing Earth’s surface