Final answer:
Convection currents in the atmosphere are caused by warm air rising and cold air sinking, which occurs because warm air is less dense. This cycle of air movement is crucial for thermal energy transfer and atmospheric circulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Convection currents in the atmosphere are formed primarily due to the process of warm air rising and cold air sinking. This occurs because warm air is less dense than cold air, causing it to rise and create upward currents. As the warm air rises and cools, it becomes denser and starts to sink, creating downward currents. The continuous cycle of rising warm air and sinking cold air establishes convection currents, which play a crucial role in atmospheric circulation.
These convection currents are a significant part of thermal energy transfer and are driven by large-scale flow of matter. They help transfer hot air from the tropics toward the poles and cold air from the poles toward the tropics. Earth's rotation also interacts with these flows, influencing wind patterns due to the Coriolis effect, but it is not the primary cause of convection currents.