The rising and sinking of air masses in the earth's atmosphere create winds. Rising warm, moist air at the equator travels northward and southward , cooling as it moves towards the poles.
What happens to air and water at the equator?
Along the equator air is rising as it is warmed by solar radiation (section 8.2). ... So the air rising at the equator is warm and full of water vapor; as it rises into the upper atmosphere it cools, and the cool air can no longer hold as much water vapor, so the water condenses and forms rain.
Why does warm water move away from the equator?
This satellite image shows the Gulf Stream, a surface current that flows along the eastern coast of the United States. The colors indicate the temperature of the water. Surface currents are caused by winds . They move warm water away from the equator and cool water away from the poles.
What happens to water at the equator?
So in the Northern hemisphere, it moves clockwise. In the Southern hemisphere, it moves counter clockwise. On the equator, water goes straight down .
Why are the places near the equator hotter than the places far from the equator?
Why is it hot at the Equator and cold at the poles? Sunlight hits the Earth most directly at the Equator. The curve of the Earth means that sunlight is spread over a wider area the further you move from the Equator. Sunlight hits a smaller surface area at the Equator so heats up quickly compared to the poles .
Why are climates generally wet near the equator?
A. Warm air (gas) holds more moisture than cold. As air above the equator rises, it cools and is unable to hold all of the moisture –so it rains at the equator, creating the climate and moisture conducive for tropical rainforests (known as the intertropical convergence).
What is created when warm air rises at the equator and cold air sinks at the poles?
Air rises at the equator and sinks at the poles, creating a single convection cell in each hemisphere. The prevailing winds moving over the Earth's surface blow from the poles towards the equator in both hemispheres (Modified by PW from globe image by Location_of_Cape_Verde_in_the_globe.
Which surface ocean current has the warmest water?
Near the thermal equator, where the warmest surface water is found, there occurs the eastward-flowing Equatorial Counter Current . This current is slightly north of the geographic Equator, drawing the northern fringe of the South Equatorial Current to 5° Ν.
Why does warm air move towards the poles?
Warm air tends to rise. But that air is going to go somewhere. It does not just rise out into space. It moves toward the North Pole or the South Pole, attempting to balance the heat difference between the Equator and Poles .
Which direction does warm water move in the ocean?
A warm current is just the reverse. A warm current is moving away from the Equator toward the poles . The water in a warm current is warmer than the surrounding water.
Where do warm ocean currents carry warm water?
In general, currents carry warm water from the tropics toward the poles and bring cold water back toward the equator. A surface current warms or cools the air above it, influencing the climate of the land near the coast.
Which direction would warm water move in the ocean?
Ocean surface circulation brings warm equatorial waters towards the poles and cooler polar water towards the equator. Deep ocean circulation is density driven circulation produced by differences in salinity and temperature of water masses.
What happens at Equator?
The Equator divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres, with both experiencing different amounts of daylight at different times . This, weather, climate and the seasons we experience are a result of the Earth's tilt on its axis and its orbit around the sun.
Which country lies on the equator?
The Equator passes through 13 countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia and Kiribati . At least half of these countries rank among the poorest in the world.
What causes water to rise near the equator?
This is known as the Coriolis effect and is largely responsible for upwelling in coastal regions. The Coriolis effect also causes upwelling in the open ocean near the Equator. Trade winds at the Equator blow surface water both north and south, allowing upwelling of deeper water.
Why do most areas near the equator have warm climates?
Reflection of the Sun's rays on the Earth's surface
Regions around the equator absorb a lot of sun rays leading to warmer conditions, unlike the polar regions (the Arctic and Antarctica) which reflect a lot of sun rays due to the massive snow.
Why are temperatures hotter in locations near the equator?
Because the sun's rays hit the earth's surface at a higher angle at the equator .
Where is the hottest place on earth?
And to the Flaming Mountain. Seven years of satellite temperature data show that the Lut Desert in Iran is the hottest spot on Earth. The Lut Desert was hottest during 5 of the 7 years, and had the highest temperature overall: 70.7°C (159.3°F) in 2005.
Why does warm air rise and cold air sinks?
Hot air pushes out on the air around it, and thus becomes less dense. Less dense air rises because the denser, cooler air sinks because it is heavier and gravity pulls on it more strongly .
When warm and cold air meet which one sinks to the bottom?
Hot air is less dense than cold air, which is why hot air rises and cold air sinks, according to the United States Department of Energy.
What is it called when heat rises and cold sinks?
This process is called convection , and the rising of warm air and sinking of cold air is called a convection current . These convection currents can also be seen in a liquid, like a pot of boiling water on your stove.
Why is the west coast warmer?
In the winter, the westerly winds blow warm moist air onto the West Coast , which makes it rain so much. Since land cools and heats more than the ocean does, the land is much colder than the ocean during the winter.
Is the Canary current warm or cold?
| Name of Current Nature of Current | Brazilian Current Warm | Labrador Current Cold | Canary Current Cold | Eastern Greenland Current Cold |
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Why is the Gulf of Mexico so warm?
The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean . It extends all the way up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean.
