Ocean Currents and Heat Distribution

The third page examines how ocean currents and atmospheric circulation work together to distribute heat globally through surface water movements.

Definition: Ocean currents are surface movements of water that follow circular patterns - clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern hemisphere.

Highlight: Water retains heat longer than land, making ocean currents crucial for global heat distribution.

Example: The North Atlantic Drift and Brazil Current are key examples of how ocean currents transfer heat from tropical to polar regions.

Understanding the Global Heat Budget

The first page explores the fundamental concepts of Earth's global heat budget, detailing how solar energy interacts with our planet's surface and atmosphere. The distribution and absorption of solar radiation varies significantly between the equator and poles.

Definition: Albedo refers to an object's ability to reflect or absorb light, playing a crucial role in Earth's heat budget.

Example: Clouds reflect 11% of incoming solar radiation due to their light color, while darker surfaces like dust absorb more energy.

Highlight: The equatorial regions absorb more energy due to darker rainforest surfaces (lower albedo), while polar regions reflect more energy due to snow and ice coverage (higher albedo).

Vocabulary: Surface heating intensity varies based on factors including surface area coverage and atmospheric distance.