Wind

Why is there wind?

• Differences in air pressure

• Differences in air temperature (UNEVEN HEATING

Air Pressure 

• Cold air has more pressure

• Cold air is more dense and has more molecules. It will sink.

• Warm air has less pressure

• Warm air is less dense and has less molecules. It will rise.

• High to Low is the only way to go!  (air moves from high pressure to low pressure)

Why Do Global Winds Curve?

• If Earth did not rotate, these winds would blow in straight lines. However, because the Earth does rotate, the winds follow curved paths.

• The Earth’s rotation is called the Coriolis effect

• As Earth rotates, places near the equator travel faster than places closer to the poles.

• This difference in speed causes the Coriolis effect.

• Wind moving from the poles to the equator is deflected to the west.

• Wind moving from the equator to the poles is deflected east.

Ocean Currents

By Stefan Mejia-Ott

Some currents are surface currents while other currents are much deeper.

Surface currents are usually caused by the wind.

Surface currents are affected by the spinning of the Earth, called the Coriolis Effect.

Deep ocean currents are caused by a number of things including changes in the temperature and salinity (how salty the water is).

The daily rise and fall of Earth's waters on shores.

Water Cycle

Vocabulary Lesson

The Water Cycle

• The water cycle is the process through which water moves around the Earth.

• It follows the path of water as it changes from a liquid to a vapor, or even into solid form.

• The major stages of the water cycle are evaporation and condensation.

• Temperature from the sun and the Earth drive the water cycle.

Vocabulary

• Precipitation: water in any form falls to Earth.

• Evaporation: Water changes state from a liquid to a gas.

• Condensation: Water changes state from a gas to liquid. (Clouds)

• Transpiration: Water vapor (gas) is given off from plants.

• Sublimation: Water changes state from a solid to a gas.

Moon Phases, Eclipses, and Tides

By Heather Sanderson

​The phase of the moon we see is determined by where the moon is located as it revolves around Earth.

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​Moon Phases

A solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks out the suns light.

Solar eclipse can only happed during a new moon.

​The umbra is the darkest part of the shadow cast.

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​Solar Eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the moon and sun.

The moon turns red during a lunar eclipse

A lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon.​

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​Lunar Eclipse

Different Shadows

• UMBRA - the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object

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• PENUMBRA - the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.

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​When the sun, Earth, and Moon align causing the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.

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​Spring Tide

Coriolis Effect

• Why do global winds curve?

• The Earth rotates

• Think about what you saw happen with the balloon.

Happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are at a 90 degree angle.

These tides have the least difference between high and low tides.​

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​Neap Tide

Types of Water Pollution

​Toxic/Chemical - chemicals from industry or people

Sediment - dirt from construction

Nutrient - excess fertilizer (nitrogen/phosphorus)

Bacterial - untreated water, human/animal waste

Point vs Non Point Source

Point Source - pollution from a single source that can be easily traced


Non Point Source - pollution from multiple sources that can't be easily traced, usually caused by run off

Annular Eclipse

• The Moon doesn’t cover the entirety of the Sun, even if the Moon’s completely centered in front of it. This happens because the Moon’s orbit is an elliptical and the Moon is closer to the Earth.

• During this kind of eclipse, the bright ring around the Moon is called the “ring of fire.”

Blood Moons...

• During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets in the way of the sun's light hitting the moon. The moon can also look reddish because Earth's atmosphere absorbs the other colors while it bends some sunlight toward the moon.