Lesson 5.01Earth Spheres.Key Points:

-The 5 different spheres of the Earth are:

The Cryosphere includes all the frozen water on the earth and areas of frozen ground.

The Hydrosphere includes all the water on the planet that is not frozen. This includes the seas, lakes, streams, water in the ground, and water vapor in the air.

The Biosphere includes all the living things on, in, or surrounding the planet. We can find these living things in the air, ground, ice, oceans, lakes, and more!

The Atmosphere includes the layer of gasses that surrounds the earth.

The Geosphere includes all the solid and molten rock. It is made up of the earth’s solid crust, oceanic crust, inner layers of the earth which are liquid rock, and the solid inner core.

Question: We live on the______________?

Lesson 5.02Weather versus Climate.Key Points:

-Weather is the current conditions in the troposphere.In other words, “What is going on outside right now.”

-Weather deals with: Temperature, Humidity, Visibility, Clouds, Wind, Sunshine, Precipitation.

Climate is the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Climate describes: Average temperature of a place.Average amount of rainfall of a place.Average amount of snowfall of a place.Average number of sunny days of a place. Average humidity of a place.Average amount of wind for a place.

Question: -Which is weather? -Which is climate?

It is cold today. It is usually cold in Antarctica.

Lesson 5.03Climate: Mean, Median, Mode

Key Points:

Mean is just another name for average. To find the mean of a set of numbers, you simply add all the numbers up and then divide by the total numbers.

The median is the middle number in a set of numbers.

The mode is the most common number in a set of data.

Question: Let’s find the mean, median, and mode of the following set on numbers together:

0, 5, 4, 5, 2, 3, 5,2, 1

Lesson 5.04Factors that Influence Climate.Key Points:

The main factors that affect an area’s Climate are: -Distance from the Equator --The main factor that influences the climate of a place is the distance from the equator. The closer a place is to the equator, the warmer its climate.

-Altitude --Altitude is a location’s distance above the ocean. Altitude is usually measured in feet. Places that are close to the ocean will have a low altitude and places that are farther away from the ocean will have a higher altitude.

-Direction of Winds--Wind can greatly affect climate. Wind can bring cold or warm air into an area. Winds that blow from the poles will bring cold air. Winds that blow from the equator will bring warm air.

-Ocean Currents--Ocean currents affect climate in a way similar to winds. Ocean currents move water around the ocean. Places that are near warm water currents will have a warmer climate. Places that are near cold water currents will have a colder climate.

-Distance from a large body of water (Ocean) -- Places that are close to the ocean tend to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The water in the ocean keeps the air above and around it warmer at night and cooler in the day.

Question: The state of Florida is consistently warm because…

Lesson 5.05Types of ClimatesKey Points:

Tropical ClimatePlaces which are located near the equator have this type of climate.

Dry ClimateA desert has this type of climate.

Mild ClimatePlaces which have warm summers and cool winters have this type of climate.

Continental ClimatePlaces which have warm summers and very cold winters have this type of climate.

Polar ClimatePlaces which have a cold climate year round have this type of climate.

Mountain AreaPlaces with high altitudes. Question: Florida has a ____________ climate.

Lesson 5.06Greenhouse EffectKey Points:

The Greenhouse Effect is a good and needed process that allows the Earth's atmosphere to absorb heat from the sun in order to keep the Earth at the right temperature during the day and at night. The sun’s rays come into the atmosphere and get absorbed and trapped by compounds that are in the atmosphere.

These compounds are called Greenhouse Gases. The common Greenhouse Gases are:-Water vapor-Carbon dioxide-Methane -Nitrous Oxide-Ozone

Global Warming occurs when the greenhouse effect is too strong and there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is not a good thing.

Question: Do we need the Greenhouse Effect or Global Warming?

Lesson 5.07Protection against Weather

Key Points:Hazardous weather constantly threatens us. Because of this, humans have developed ways to combat Mother Nature.

--Levees are man-made structures that extend the height of a river bank. During times of excess rain, large amounts of water flow into rivers. Levees increase the amount of water that the river can hold, reducing the chance that the river will overflow causing a flood.

--Many Dams are designed to hold back floodwater so a nearby town or city will not be flooded. The dam captures all the excess rain water and holds it in a reservoir. The water can then be let out of the reservoir slowly so it does not cause a flood.

--Tornado Sirens are designed to warn the people of the town that a tornado is close. This is important because many tornadoes happen at night and the people of the town might be asleep or unable to see the tornado.

--Protection Against Sun ExposureEven though exposure to the sun is not a natural disaster, it is something that we need protection against. A life time of sun exposure can cause skin cancer and eye problems. The best way to protect ourselves from the sun is to use sunscreen and wear sunglasses to protect the skin and eyes when at the beach, pool, snow skiing, or any other outdoor activity.

Question: Which type of protection do we need daily in Florida?

Your Module 5 Review is now Complete!