Differentiate between weather and climate, and the impacts of each on daily life. (K, STSE)

Understand that Earth's climate system results from the exchange of thermal energy and moisture between the sun, ice sheets, oceans, solid earth and the biosphere over a range of timescales. (K, A)

Investigate how Earth's axial tilt, rotation and revolution around the sun cause uneven heating of Earth's surface, resulting in global convection currents, the Coriolis effect, jet streams, thermohaline circulation of the oceans and climate zones. (S, K)

Hypothesize how energy transfer, weather and climate might be different if Earth had a different axial tilt, diameter, period of rotation and/or period of revolution. (S, STSE, A)

Explain how greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone), particles, clouds and surface albedo affect the amount of solar energy absorbed and re-radiated at various locations on Earth. (K)

Explain the role of natural sources (e.g., volcanoes, fire, evaporation and living organisms) of the primary greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere and how they contribute to the natural greenhouse effect. (K, A)

Design, construct and evaluate the effectiveness of a model used to illustrate the natural greenhouse effect, the reflectivity of Earth's surface or the relationship between Earth's axial tilt and the seasons. (S, STSE, A)

Investigate, through laboratory activities or simulations, heat transfer in air and water, including heat involved in phase changes. (S, A)

Examine how interactions between heat, pressure and the Coriolis Effect result in global wind patterns, ocean currents, jet streams and severe weather (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and thunderstorms). (S, STSE)

Analyze weather and atmospheric data to identify patterns in temperature and atmospheric pressure, and changes in those patterns locally, regionally and globally. (S)

Provide examples of positive and negative feedback mechanisms in Earth's climate system. (K, STSE)

Provide examples to show how scientific understanding may be refined in light of new evidence. (STSE)