Final answer:
The Sun's energy drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing wind and ocean currents through a process called thermal convection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Sun's energy drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing wind and ocean currents through a process called thermal convection.
Thermal convection occurs when heat is transferred through the movement of molecules.
In the atmosphere, sunlight heats the Earth's surface, causing the air near the surface to become warmer and rise.
As the warm air rises, cooler air from higher altitudes moves in to take its place, creating wind. Similarly, in the oceans, the Sun warms the surface water, causing it to expand and become less dense.
This warm, less dense water rises and is replaced by colder, denser water, creating ocean currents.