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Examine how solar energy is transformed and redistributed through circulation patterns in the atmosphere and oceans. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 23 - 2015
Question 23
Examine how solar energy is transformed and redistributed through circulation patterns in the atmosphere and oceans.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Examine how solar energy is transformed and redistributed through circulation patterns in the atmosphere and oceans. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question 23 - 2015
Step 1
Identify how solar energy is transformed
Answer
Solar energy is primarily transformed into thermal energy when it reaches the Earth's surface. This energy heats the air above land and water, causing temperature differences that lead to atmospheric circulation. For example, land heats up more quickly than water, which creates local wind patterns as air moves from high to low pressure areas.
Step 2
Redistribution through atmospheric circulation
Answer
The transformation of solar energy into thermal energy initiates convection currents in the atmosphere. Warm air rises and creates low pressure areas, while cooler air sinks, creating wind patterns. The Coriolis effect further influences these patterns by causing moving air to curve, resulting in global wind belts like the trade winds and westerlies, which redistribute solar energy across different latitudes.
Step 3
Redistribution through ocean currents
Answer
Ocean currents also play a crucial role in redistributing solar energy. Surface currents, driven by wind and the Earth's rotation, transport warm water from tropical regions towards temperate and polar areas. For instance, the Gulf Stream carries warm water across the Atlantic, moderating temperatures in Europe. Deep ocean currents, driven by thermohaline circulation, also redistribute heat globally by moving cold and warm water masses.