3.4 Heat transfer mechanisms in the Earth system

Heat transfer mechanisms play a crucial role in Earth's climate system. Radiation, conduction, and convection work together to distribute energy across the planet, influencing weather patterns and global temperature distributions.

Ocean currents and atmospheric circulation are key players in redistributing heat from equatorial regions to higher latitudes. These processes, along with latent heat transfer, shape our climate and drive the complex interactions within Earth's energy budget.

Heat Transfer Mechanisms in the Earth System

Heat transfer mechanisms

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• Radiation transfers energy through electromagnetic waves without requiring a medium (solar radiation from the Sun to Earth, Earth's emission of longwave radiation to space)
• Conduction transfers energy through direct contact between molecules and requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) (heat transfer between Earth's surface and atmosphere, heat transfer within Earth's interior)
• Convection transfers energy through the motion of fluids (liquids or gases) driven by density differences caused by temperature variations (atmospheric circulation like Hadley cells and jet streams, ocean currents like the Gulf Stream and Antarctic Circumpolar Current)

Ocean currents for heat redistribution

• Ocean currents transport heat from the equator to the poles
  • Warm currents move heat from low to high latitudes (Gulf Stream transports warm water from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic, Kuroshio Current transports warm water from the western Pacific to the North Pacific)
  • Cold currents move cooler water from high to low latitudes (Antarctic Circumpolar Current circulates cold water around Antarctica)
• Ocean currents influence regional climates by moderating coastal temperatures (warm currents like the Gulf Stream in Western Europe) or cooling coastal regions (cold currents along the West Coast of South America)

Atmospheric circulation and heat transfer

• Hadley cells redistribute heat from the equator to the subtropics through circulation between the equator and 30° latitude in each hemisphere with rising motion at the equator and descending motion at 30° latitude
• Ferrel cells transport heat from the subtropics to the mid-latitudes through circulation between 30° and 60° latitude in each hemisphere with rising motion at 60° latitude and descending motion at 30° latitude
• Polar cells transport cold air from the poles to the mid-latitudes through circulation between 60° and 90° latitude in each hemisphere with rising motion at 60° latitude and descending motion at the poles
• Jet streams are fast-moving, narrow bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere that influence the movement of air masses and weather systems, affecting the distribution of heat and moisture across the planet

Latent heat in Earth's energy budget

• Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during phase changes
  • Evaporation absorbs energy from the surface, cooling it (evaporation from oceans, lakes, and land)
  • Condensation releases energy into the atmosphere, warming it and driving atmospheric circulation
• Latent heat transfer is a significant component of Earth's energy budget as moisture evaporated from the surface is transported by atmospheric circulation and condensation occurs when the air cools, leading to cloud formation and precipitation
• Latent heat influences global precipitation patterns and affects the intensity and development of weather systems (tropical cyclones gain energy from latent heat released during condensation, frontal systems are influenced by latent heat released during precipitation events)