The Earth's climate system depends on two things... (please tick both)
The way heat energy moves in and out of our atmosphere
The configuration of the Milky Way galaxy
Our Earth's magnetic field
The way heat energy moves around our atmosphere and oceans
What provides most of the heat energy that reaches our atmosphere?
The moon
The sun
Other stars
All the heat energy from the sun is eventually released back into space, but it can be trapped in our atmosphere and in the Earth first
Greenhouse gases are...
Gases that absorb some of the heat energy from the sun before it escapes into space, trapping it in our atmosphere for longer
Gases that allow the heat energy to pass straight through, back into space
Which of these are greenhouse gases?
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Nitrogen
Methane
Greenhouse gases play an important role in keeping our Earth warm enough for us to live
What causes different seasons, and affects weather and climate at different latitudes?
The Earth's orbit being closer or further from the sun
The Earth's tilt causing places to be tilted towards or away from the sun
The sun's intensity changing over the year
Because heat energy is unevenly distributed over the earth (more at the equator, less at the poles), the atmosphere moves the heat to try to equalise it
At areas of low pressure, warm air ❌, often bringing rain and ❌. This air then cools and starts to fall, causing areas of ❌ pressure. High pressure areas are often calm and ❌. These cycles of warm and cool air and changing air pressure cause most of our weather.
Changes in ocean temperature and saltiness cause currents of warm and cool water in the oceans too, which contribute to climate
