Question

Which is the best explanation of how oceans help create the conditions necessary for all storms?

1) Oceans create wind by cooling the air above them.
2) Oceans destabilize the air by absorbing atmospheric gases.
3) Oceans provide the water vapor needed to form clouds.
4) Oceans hold the ions (charged particles) that cause lightning.

Answer 1

Oceans provide water vapor necessary for cloud formation, contributing to the development of storms through a positive feedback loop, where rising warm air leads to condensation, cloud growth, and energy release, which are essential mechanisms in storms, including hurricanes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best explanation of how oceans help to create the conditions necessary for all storms is that oceans provide the water vapor needed to form clouds. When water evaporates from the oceans, it takes heat from the ocean, transferring it into the atmosphere as the water vapor condenses to form clouds.

The release of this heat energy initiates convection currents that cause air to rise and cool, leading to more condensation and cloud growth in a process known as positive feedback. This cycle is crucial in the development of thunderheads, as well as the powerful energy release needed for various storm systems, including hurricanes.