Starter quiz
- What shape is the Earth?
- a flat disc
- a sphere ✓
- a circle
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- Which of these correctly names the seven continents?
- Africa, India, Oceania, Asia, America, Europe, Antarctica
- Antarctica, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania ✓
- South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Antarctica
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- What is the atmosphere?
- a layer of gases surrounding the Earth ✓
- the solid crust of the Earth
- the space beyond the Earth's surface
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What are the horizontal lines shown on this map called?- lines of latitude ✓
- lines of longitude
- grid lines
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- Why do different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of solar radiation?
- because some parts are closer to the sun
- due to the Earth's atmosphere
- because of the Earth's curved surface ✓
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- What is the difference between weather and climate?
- weather is always hot, climate is always cold
- weather is short-term conditions; climate is the long-term average. ✓
- weather is what you expect, climate is what you get
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Exit quiz
- Match the terms with their correct definition.
- latitude⇔this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is ✓
- atmospheric pressure⇔the pressure of a column of air at a point on the Earth's surface ✓
- surface winds⇔the movement of air, generally from areas of high to low pressure ✓
- Coriolis effect⇔deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation ✓
- What does the global atmospheric circulation system do?
- moves heat between the Earth and the sun
- creates lines of latitude
- redistributes heat around the Earth ✓
- radiates excess heat from the Earth's core
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- What climatic conditions are expected in a high pressure zone?
- clear skies, dry, stable weather conditions ✓
- heavy rainfall, strong winds, and unstable weather conditions
- frequent thunderstorms and high humidity
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- Why is rainfall expected in a belt of low atmospheric pressure?
- air pressure is high, causing water vapor to condense and form clouds and rain
- air rises and cools, causing water vapour to condense and form clouds and rain ✓
- air descends and warms, causing water vapour to evaporate, making it wet
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- Which atmospheric circulation cells influence the formation of deserts?
- Hadley and Ferrel ✓
- Hadley and Polar
- Ferrel and Polar
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- Which atmospheric circulation cells influence the formation of temperate climates?
- Polar and Ferrel ✓
- Ferrel and Hadley
- Hadley and Hadley
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The atmosphere operates as a global system.
- The atmospheric circulation and ocean currents transfer heat around the Earth.
- The atmospheric circulation determines the location of global pressure belts.
- Global pressure belts affect surface winds and patterns of rainfall.
Common misconception
The global atmospheric circulation systems controls the temperature of different climate zones.
Global circulation system redistributes heat received at the Equator, but latitude controls temperature of each climate zone. The amount of solar radiation received at each latitude is due to the curvature of the Earth.
Keywords
Latitude - this describes how far north or south of the Equator a place is
Atmospheric pressure - the pressure of a column of air at a point on the Earth'ssurface, creating relatively high or low pressure
Surface winds - the movement of air from place to place, generally from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
Coriolis effect - deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation
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