How is heat moved from the tropics to the poles? Be specific. How is most heat energy transported?
· Heat is carried from the tropics to the poles by means of ocean and atmospheric currents.
· Ocean currents carry heat from the tropics to the poles. At the tropics, incoming energy levels are much higher than the outgoing energy levels. The energy then moves poleward where the outgoing energy is exceeds the incoming.
· Nearly half of 550 trillion calories transported by the Gulf Stream reach the high latitudes.
· Atmospheric currents are able to transport much higher levels of heat than ocean currents. This is due to the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. The water vapor from evaporation in the tropics is moved by winds to the poles. The water vapor has more heat energy because the high latent heat of vaporization of water. An additional 540 calories per gram of heat energy is needed for liquid water to become vapor so this additional energy is carried throughout the atmosphere.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following will NOT cause air to become more unstable?
A) intense solar heating which warms the air from below B) subsidence of an air column C) forceful lifting of air D) upward movement caused by general convergence
Which of the following typically involves the most water?
a. soil creep b. rock slide c. rockfall d. mudflow e. debris slide
Jupiter's atmosphere displays spectacular cyclonic and anticyclonic storms, some persisting for long periods of time. How do these storms form?
A) Like on Earth, they result from differential solar heating of the equatorial region versus poles, and resultant atmospheric circulation. B) Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field, and these storms both form the field and are strengthened by it as it feeds electric currents in the atmosphere. C) They form like storms on the Sun, for low level nuclear fusion in Jupiter's core. D) They are due to internal heat exchange within the planet, basically convection currents transferring internal heat to the surface.
A beaker contains a mixture of ice and pure liquid water at 0°C. What happens to the temperature of the liquid water as heat is added?
A) It immediately begins to rise slowly. B) It remains constant until the ice melts, and then it begins to rise. C) It rises rapidly as the ice melts. D) It rises slowly until it reaches 32°C, and then it remains constant as the ice melts. E) The temperature pattern cannot be predicted.