Winds generally flow away from the equator and toward the poles. What transfer does this flow of wind cause?

Question

Melissa Cook

Physics

19 August, 20:19

Winds generally flow away from the equator and toward the poles. What transfer does this flow of wind cause?

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Answers (1)

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Scarlet Manning · Answer 1

An energy transfer, with heat energy moving away from the equator is caused by the flow of wind.

Explanation:

Warm wind is detectable at the equator, and as the warm air molecules have more kinetic energy, they travel away from the equator to the poles. Already cold or colder air is present at the poles that is substituted by warm air. Such cooler air then travels towards the equator.

These winds flow because of the heat which assists in their motion. In contrast with rising latitude, the equator experiences more sunlight during the year, thus the atmosphere and oceans within that latitude are warmer. As winds are blowing away from the equator, they shift this thermal energy to higher latitudes, which are cooler.