Background Much of our weather is due to water and land absorbing different amounts of energy from the sun.
Different substances absorb heat at different rates.
Even different colours absorb different amounts of heat. A black brick, for example, will warm more quickly in the sun than a lighter coloured brick made of the same material. Ice and snow, for example, reflect a great deal of the sun's energy back into the atmosphere. Soil and sand absorb much of the sun's energy. Resources and actions Ensure that students take care and don't touch the hot globe.