Describe Earth’s atmosphere as unique in that it contains substantial oxygen (21 percent) and 78 percent nitrogen and 1 percent trace gases.

Recognize that the composition of Earth’s atmosphere has changed over geologic time, and recognize specifically that

• the early atmosphere contained little oxygen and more carbon dioxide than the modern atmosphere;
• early photosynthetic life (algae and blue-green algae) generated oxygen as a byproduct and consumed carbon dioxide;
• it was only after early photosynthetic life generated oxygen that animal life became possible.

ES.12 a, b

Define estuary, using the Chesapeake Bay as an example.

ES.11 a

Explain that

• upwellings bring cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface and are areas of rich biological activity;
• there are large current systems in the oceans that carry warm water towards the poles and cold water towards the equator;
• some ocean currents are convection currents.
  

ES.11 a
ES.8 c

Explain the major concepts of convection:

• It is a current that is set up when hot, less dense material rises, cools, becomes denser, and sinks.
• It is the major mechanism of energy transfer in the oceans, atmosphere, and Earth’s interior.
• Uneven heating of Earth by the Sun creates convection in the atmosphere, a major cause of weather.

ES.12 d
ES.8 c
ES.1 a, b

ES.13 a, b, c

ES.13 a, b, c, d

Explain the following concepts related to energy transfer:

• The Earth’s surface is much more efficiently heated by the sun than is the atmosphere.
• Energy transfer between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere influences weather.
• The stored heat in the ocean drives much of the Earth’s weather.
• Winds are created by uneven heat distribution at the Earth’s surface and modified by the rotation of the Earth.
• The stored heat in the ocean causes climate near the ocean to be milder than climate in the interior of continents.
  

ES.13 a, b, c
ES.11 c, d

ES.13 c

Explain the Coriolis effect and how it helps create the global wind pattern.

Illustrate how Earth’s position in space determines that

• the amount of energy reaching any given point on the Earth’s surface is controlled by the angle of sunlight striking the surface and varies with Earth’s revolution around the Sun (the seasons);
• areas near the equator receive more of the sun’s energy per unit area than areas nearer the poles.

ES.13 a, b, c

ES.13 a, b, c

Label a diagram of global wind patterns.

Read and interpret data from a thermometer, a barometer, and a psychrometer.

Read and interpret weather maps.

ES.13 a, b, c, d