Currents, Climate & the Atmosphere Mind Map

← Currents, Climate & the Atmosphere

How the sun’s energy drives currents in the ocean and the air, how those currents shape climate, and how the atmosphere changes from one layer to the next.

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- - currentA continuing flow of water in a particular direction.A warm current flows north along the coast.
  - densityHow much mass is packed into a certain volume.Cold, salty water has a higher density, so it sinks.
  - salinityHow much salt is dissolved in water.The salinity of the Dead Sea is very high.
  - Gulf StreamA warm Atlantic Ocean flow that moves northward along the eastern United States and then northeastward.The Gulf Stream transports warm water along the eastern coast of North America.
  - gyreA huge, circling system of ocean currents.Floating trash collects in the middle of a gyre.
  - upwellingCold, nutrient-rich water rising from deep in the ocean to the surface.Upwelling brings food for fish near the coast.
  - El NiñoA pattern when the Pacific Ocean near South America becomes warmer than usual, changing weather around the world.During El Niño, some places get much more rain.
- - Coriolis effectThe apparent turning of moving air and water when viewed from rotating Earth.The Coriolis effect bends winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
  - global windsLarge wind patterns that blow steadily over long distances around Earth.Global winds push surface currents across the ocean.
  - jet streamA fast, narrow band of wind high in the atmosphere.Planes flying east can ride the jet stream to save fuel.
  - sea breezeA daytime wind that blows from the sea toward the warmer land.A cool sea breeze blew in every afternoon.
  - convection currentA circulation of fluid driven by density differences: less dense material rises and denser material sinks under gravity.Uneven heating sets up a convection current in the ocean.
- - climateThe usual weather of a place over many years.Ohio has a climate with cold winters and warm summers.
  - latitudeHow far north or south a place is from the equator, measured in degrees.Places at a high latitude get less direct sunlight.
  - weatherThe condition of the air at a certain time and place, like temperature, wind, and rain.The weather changed from sunny to stormy.
- - atmosphereThe layers of gases that surround Earth.The atmosphere protects us from harmful sunlight.
  - troposphereThe lowest atmospheric layer, where most clouds and weather occur.Clouds and storms form in the troposphere.
  - tropopauseThe boundary between the lowest layer of the atmosphere and the one above it.Temperature stops dropping at the tropopause.
  - stratosphereThe layer above the lowest layer. It holds the ozone layer and gets warmer as you go up.Jets sometimes fly in the lower stratosphere.
  - ozone layerA layer of ozone gas in the stratosphere that blocks most harmful ultraviolet (UV) light.The ozone layer acts like sunscreen for Earth.
  - mesosphereThe middle layer of the atmosphere, where most meteors burn up.A shooting star glows as it burns in the mesosphere.
  - thermosphereA very thin atmospheric layer with high gas temperatures caused by absorption of solar energy; many auroras occur here.The space station orbits in the thermosphere.
  - exosphereThe outermost layer, where the air fades into space.Some satellites orbit in the exosphere.
  - altitudeHeight above sea level.Air gets thinner as altitude increases.
- - compositionWhat something is made of and how much of each part it has.The composition of air is mostly nitrogen and oxygen.
  - nitrogenA gas that makes up about 78% of Earth’s dry atmosphere.Most of the air you breathe in is nitrogen.
  - oxygenA gas that makes up about 21% of Earth’s dry atmosphere and is used in aerobic respiration.Plants release oxygen into the air.
  - carbon dioxideA gas used in photosynthesis and released by respiration and burning; it also absorbs infrared radiation.Burning fuel adds carbon dioxide to the air.
  - air pressureThe force per unit area exerted by air on a surface.Air pressure is lower on top of a mountain.
  - barometerA tool that measures air pressure.A falling barometer can mean a storm is coming.
- - greenhouse gasAn atmospheric gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation, helping warm Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere.Methane is a strong greenhouse gas.
  - greenhouse effectWarming of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere as certain gases absorb and emit outgoing infrared radiation.Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be frozen.
  - ultraviolet lightElectromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible violet light; excessive exposure can damage skin and eyes.Sunscreen helps block ultraviolet light.