Final answer:
Colder air moves in to fill the space left by rising warm air at the equator, creating a convection cycle affected by thermal energy, Coriolis effect, and Earth's rotation.
Step-by-step explanation:
As warm air masses rise at the equator, a colder air mass moves in and gets warmed by the surface. This creates a cycle known as convection. The process is governed by the fact that warm air expands and becomes less dense due to thermal energy, causing it to rise. As it rises, it cools down and its density increases, causing it to sink. This movement of air results from the uneven heating of the Earth's surface and contributes to wind patterns and weather phenomena.
For instance, the rising warm air at the equator leads to low pressure areas, and cooler air rushes in to replace it, getting warmed in turn and continuing the cycle. Additionally, phenomena like the rotation of the Earth and Coriolis effect also play roles in shaping the movement and patterns of these air masses.