Explain how incoming solar radiation, ocean currents, and land masses affect weather and climate.

Major Understandings:

2.2a Insolation (solar radiation) heats Earth’s surface and atmosphere unequally due to variations in:

• the intensity caused by differences in atmospheric transparency and angle of incidence which vary with time of day, latitude, and season

• characteristics of the materials absorbing the energy such as color, texture, transparency, state of matter, and specific heat

• duration, which varies with seasons and latitude.

2.2b The transfer of heat energy within the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and Earth’s surface occurs as the result of radiation, convection, and conduction.

• Heating of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the Sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents.

2.2c A location’s climate is influenced by latitude, proximity to large bodies of water, ocean currents, prevailing winds, vegetative cover, elevation, and mountain ranges.

2.2d Temperature and precipitation patterns are altered by:

• natural events such as El Niño and volcanic eruptions

• human influences including deforestation, urbanization, and the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.