1. Energy from the Sun CONTENTS RESOURCES

2. CONTENTS The Sun’s energy Source Effects Local atmospheric phenomena Thermals Storms Sea breezes Valley breezes Thermal inversions Meteorology Winds Clouds Precipitation Uses of solar energy Producing heat Producing electricity Risks of solar radiation Damage to the ozonosphere The greenhouse effect and global warming ENERGY FROM THE SUN

3. RESOURCES Source of the Sun’s energy Effects of the Sun’s energy Thermals Storms Sea breezes Valley breezes Thermal inversions Winds Clouds Precipitation Producing heat Producing electricity with solar energy Damage to the ozonosphere The greenhouse effect and global warming Links Solar energy

4. Nuclear reactions take place in the Sun’s core. Source of the Sun’s energy Energy is emitted in all directions. The enormous amount of energy emitted by the Sun is created by nuclear reactions.

6. Effects of the Sun’s energy Around the Equator, the Sun’s rays are almost perpendicular to the ground. This direct sunlight makes the air and the ocean water warm. BACK

7. Effects of the Sun’s energy At the poles, the Sun’s rays are oblique. They do not warm up the ground and water here. North Pole South Pole BACK

10. Thermals cold air hot air cumulus cloud

11. Storms Big difference in temperature cumulonimbus

12. Sea breezes Day Night The hot air over the land rises, so cooler air is pulled in from the sea. The warmer air over the sea rises, so cooler air is pulled in from the land.

13. Valley breezes warm air Valley breezes blow through the valley and its slopes . Day

14. Thermal inversions warmer air cooler air smog (smoke + fog)

15. Winds L H H = high pressure areas (anticyclones) L = low pressure areas (depressions) = wind direction

16. Clouds L Air rises in low pressures areas, cools and forms clouds.

17. Precipitation rain snow hail

18. Producing heat with solar energy heating coils Solar water heater tank hot water out cold water in collector (solar panel) glass cover

19. Producing electricity with solar energy photovoltaic panels solar cell or photovoltaic cell sunlight electricity

20. Damage to the ozonosophere Ozonosphere OZONE (O 3 ) Harmful UV light is absorbed by ozone. CFCs destroy the ozone.

21. The greenhouse effect and global warming During the day, the Sun heats the Earth’s surface. Heat is retained. The atmosphere, allows part of the heat to escape and retains the other part. More heat is retained because of the increase in greenhouse gases. Without an atmosphere, the heat would escape. The Earth would be extremely cold.

22. Links The greenhouse effect http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/energy/site/EIZInfogr9.asp Animation of land and sea breezes http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1903/es1903page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization Measuring and mapping the weather http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/weather/mappingmeasuringrev1.shtml The Sun and global warming http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/21c/radiation/energyfromthesunrev1.shtml Solar energy http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter15.html Global climate change http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/sci_tech/2000/climate_change/default.stm Guide to climate change http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/greenhouse.stm