Download 4th Grade Earth Science

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4
Grade Earth
Science
Weeks 1 & 2
Effects of Sun on Earth
The sun is a star. Our solar system
has only one star.
Sun close-up. Paul Fuqua. (2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/
The outer visible
layer of the sun has
a temperature of
6,000°C (11,000°F).
Its light and heat
travels through
space to the earth.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ news/0003/02sunwarming
The Sun is the major driving force behind
weather on our planet.
Sun over water. Paul Fuqua. (2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/
When the sun heats water, the water begins to
evaporate. Approximately 80% of all evaporation
is from the oceans, with the remaining 20%
coming from inland water and vegetation.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/hyd/evap.rxml
Because Earth is tilted on its
axis, it does not get direct
sunlight everywhere on its
surface.
http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-phase/EARTHCLIMATE.htm
The sun’s heat warms the air. Warm air rises,
and cool air sinks.
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Earth/weather.html
Because the
earth spins
(rotates) on its
axis, the paths
of winds bend
clockwise north
of the equator.
Hurricanes spin
clockwise in the
northern
hemisphere.
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Earth/weather.html
Conditions of the earth's atmosphere at a given
place and time are called weather.
Some of these conditions are:
•Temperature
•Wind speed
•Precipitation
•Humidity
•Cloud cover
Temperature
The measure of how much
heat an object has.
Heat is how much molecules
in an object vibrate.
The faster the molecules
vibrate, the hotter the object
is.
http://schoolnet.gov.mt/physics/HeatEnergy2.htm
Temperature
In America we use the
Fahrenheit and Celsius
scales for measuring
temperature.
Celsius is the
temperature scale that
is used in science.
Image from Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc. (2005)
Fahrenheit
Celsius
http://physics.uoregon.edu/~jimbrau/BrauImNew/Chap03/FG03mp0101.jpg
Wind Speed
The speed of the wind and the
direction it is coming from are
important for predicting weather.
Generally, fast winds coming from
the north indicate a cold front.
Anemometers measure wind speed.
Wind vanes measure direction. Some
anemometers can do both.
Images From:
http://www.earthsciweek.org/forteachers/windvane.jpg
http://www.novalynx.com/200-1005-1010.html
http://www.delta-education.com/images/products/0102453.jpg
Precipitation
Any form of water that falls
from clouds is precipitation:
Rain
Hail
Sleet
Snow
Precipitation, illustration. Paul Fuqua. (2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com
Humidity
Foggy days
are very
humid.
There is a
lot of
humidity in
the Houston
area each
summer.
Humidity, definition. Paul Fuqua. (2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com
Cloud Cover
The weather forecast usually includes the cloud
cover. This is the amount of the sky that is
covered with clouds.
Stratocumulus clouds. Paul Fuqua.
(2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006,
from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com
Mostly cloudy, or overcast.
The Water Cycle
The process that water goes through from
evaporation through precipitation.
condensation
precipitation
evaporation
Water cycle. Paul Fuqua. (2005). Retrieved February 14, 2006, from unitedstreaming:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com
Seasonal Patterns
What can you conclude from this chart of Houston’s
average temperatures and rainfall?
Houston
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avg High
◦F
61.5
65.2
72.4
79.2
84.8
89.9
92.3
92.3
88.1
81.4
72.4
64.7
Avg Low
◦F
42.9
45.5
52.7
60.7
67
72.6
74.6
74.6
71.2
61.2
52.8
45.4
3.63
3.11
2.8
3.07
5.2
6.41
4.82
4.53
5.45
4.19
4.22
3.4
mph
9.2
9.2
11.5
11.5
10.4
10.4
8.1
9.2
6.9
9.2
8.1
9.2
T-storm
Days
2
2
4
3
7
8
11
10
7
4
3
2
Avg Rain
inches
Avg Wind
http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/climate.htm