1. 8.8 Energy Transfer within the Climate System
Earth is unevenly heated by the Sun because
The Sun’s radiation reaches Earth’s surface with different intensities at different latitudes.
Water and land absorb energy at different rates.
The atmosphere and hydrosphere can absorb and store thermal energy, so they act as heat sinks.
The climate system transports thermal energy from areas that have more energy to areas that have less energy. Most of this thermal energy circulation takes place in the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
heat sinks

2. 8.8 Energy Transfer within the Climate System
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere
The movement of warm and cold air creates a circular current called a convection current.
Convection currents are one of the main ways that energy is transported in the atmosphere.
convection current
Earth has permanent bands of high and low pressure, so there are prevailing winds that blow in the same direction almost all of the time.
Prevailing winds move warm air and warm water from the equator towards the poles.
Figure 4 Bands of high and low pressure around
the globe create air currents (winds) that blow from areas
of high pressure to areas of low pressure. Winds are named
based on the direction they originate from.

3. 8.8 Energy Transfer within the Climate System
Energy Transfer in the Oceans
Cold, dense ocean water at the poles sinks to the ocean floor.
Warmer surface water from the equator then flows to the poles to take its place.
This process is called the thermohaline circulation of the oceans.
Ocean currents around the globe slowly move water (and the thermal energy it carries) from the equator to the poles.
thermohaline circulation
Figure 5 Red lines show warm ocean currents and blue lines show cold ones. Warm water currents travel on the surface, but cold water currents travel deep down in the ocean.