Weather and Seasons
Tides and Seasons
Get into groups of four. In your group you are going to have a discussions. With your partners you are going to answer these questions.
-How long does it take the earth to rotate on its axis once?
-How long does it take for the moon to orbit the earth once?
-How long does it take the earth to orbit the sun once?
-What are ocean tides?
-What causes ocean tides?
-What are seasons?
-What causes seasons?
-Are seasons the same in all parts of the earth?
It is okay if you do not know the answers to some of these questions. If you don't know then guess. You need to have an answer but it is okay to be wrong. We will discuss it together afterwards.
The Sun, Earth, and Moon Orbit Simulation
Google Moon We all know there is a google earth but did you know there is a google moon? We can explore the moon!
Ocean Tides the effect the moon and sun have on earth tides
Phases of the Moon
Seasons!
Why do we have seasons Part 1 Is it because of how close we are to the sun?
Why do we have seasons Part 2 is it because of the earth's tilt?
Water pressure demonstration
When matter is removed from space it creates a vacuum that must be filled
Heat rises and as it does new matter must take its place. This new matter is usually cooler than the heated matter that rises
Demonstration on heat rising
-How does this compare to weather? To wind? To water currents?
-How does this affect Los Angeles and our smog?
Air Pressure
Surface Circulation
-The wind drives the strongest ocean currents which occurs on the surface layer
-Wind and surface currents are ultimately caused by heat from the sun
-Wind and currents are also influenced by the Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis Effect
-Because the earth is round, anything that moves across the earths surface tends to turn a little instead of moving in a straight line.
Wind Patterns and Weather
Surface Currents
-The wind blows the top layer of the ocean. This causes currents
-Instead of the surface current moving in the same direction as the wind it curves at a 45 degree angle because of the Coriolis Effect
-Ekman Spiral
-Each layer of the ocean pushes the next causing a downward spiral of current
-Ekman Layer
-The Ekman Layer is the top layer of the ocean that is most affected by the spiral
-Ekman Transport
-Eventually if you go deep enough the Ekman Spiral is causing the current to move at a 90 degree angle from the direction the wind is blowing.
-After 200 meters at most the wind has no affect and the ocean water is still.
Rain Shadows
The water from the ocean evaporates and rises to form clouds. The clouds blow inland. Once they reach a mountain that is too tall to pass they rain. The water travels down the mountain and works its way back to the ocean. The wind continues past the mountains but since the clouds did not make it over it is a dry wind. On the other side of coastal mountains is usually a desert because the air at that point is dry. This is called a rain shadow.
The Sierra Nevada Mountains
Now we will spend the rest of the class working on our summer project