1. Radiant Energy The Sun’s energy is called radiant energy.
The Sun’s energy is responsible for the movement of air in the atmosphere (wind) and the oceans (currents).
HOW? Through a process called CONVECTION.

2. Radiant Energy
Radiant energy drives CONVECTION within the atmosphere and the oceans.
CONVECTION is the process of heat transfer in liquids (in the ocean) and air (in the atmosphere).
Energy is transported and redistributed all over the Earth.

3. Convection Demos Exploring Convection Part 1

4. Convection Everyday
Have students explain how this convection current works in their interactive notebook. Then discuss as a class:
Answer:
Hot air is less dense than cold air, so the hot air rises.
When it reaches the ceiling, it is pushed along by more hot air rising behind it.
The hot air starts to cool down the farther it gets from the heat source (heater).
The air then reaches the cool window and sinks. The cool air sinks because it is more dense.
A circular convection current is set up.

5. Wind
Differences in density/air pressure cause movement of air, which is wind.
Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface (Equator vs. Poles)
Warmer air is less dense (has less pressure) than cooler air.
High pressure/more dense (cooler) air pushes low pressure/less dense (warm) air.
The greater the difference in pressure, the faster the wind blows.

6. Types of Winds There are 2 types of winds: Global and Local
Convection currents on a large scale produce global winds.

7. Global Winds
Atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect create global wind patterns.

8. Atmospheric Circulation
Earth’s curved surface causes some parts of Earth to receive the Sun’s rays more directly than other parts.
As the warmer air over the equator rises, colder air from the poles rushes toward the equator to take its place.
This steady exchange of warm and cold air that occurs between the equator and the poles produces global wind belts.

9. The Coriolis Effect
The Earth rotates on its axis, so circulating air is deflected or turns.
This means that air deflects in a clockwise motion in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in curved paths.
This deflection is known as the Coriolis Effect.

10. The Coriolis Effect: Click below!
Merry Go Round Simulation
Coriolis Effect Animation

11. Convection currents on a small scale produce local winds.

12. Local Winds Small-scale convection currents cause local winds on
the coast and in the mountains.
Blow over a much smaller area and change direction and speed over a shorter period of time than global winds.
There are 2 types of local winds: sea breezes and land breezes.

13. Sea Breeze
Sea Breeze (Daytime)

14. Land Breeze (Nighttime)

15. How the Oceans Transport Energy
The ocean transports energy from the Sun around the globe. HOW?
To understand this, you have to learn more about ocean currents and wind.
There are 2 types of ocean currents: surface currents and deep currents.

16. Surface Ocean Currents
Surface ocean currents transport thermal energy from the tropics (Equator) to the poles.
Surface ocean currents are caused by winds.
The wind blows…it moves the water!!

17. Deep Ocean Currents
Deep ocean currents are caused by two things: differences in temperature of the water and salinity of the water (how salty it is).
These differences set convection in motion, causing energy to be moved deep within the ocean all over the globe.

18. Density Currents
More dense water sinks and pushes up less dense water.
This moves water around globe.