The earth’s climate system is influenced by various factors consisting of the ocean currents, wind and solar radiation. Solar radiation from the sun and the tidal energy from the moon act as the source of energy for the climate system; thus, the earth’s climate system attempts to adjust the temperatures form the energy received from its sources (Romanou et al., 2007). The ways in which energy moves in and out of the atmosphere and the ocean influence the climate system. Energy from the sun moves through the atmosphere and it circulates to different areas of the earth surface through radiation, convention and conduction. When the atmosphere receives energy from the sun, some of it is absorbed and the rest is reflected from the clouds. Some of the energy heats the earth’s surface, which is later released in the form of air currents, radiation and evaporated water. The atmosphere re-absorbs the heat from the earth’s surface and releases it again.
The axial tilt in the earth’s orbit determines which part of the earth’s surface experiences sunlight. As a result, we have different parts of the earth experiencing varying weather conditions and season throughout the year. Therefore, the sun and the orbital cycles influence the earth’s climate by creating the different seasons as well as determining the intensity of each season. According to Lean (2010), the earth’s orbit around the sun influences the temperatures experienced on the earth’s surface. When the earth moves closer or further away from the sun the climate changes as the temperatures fluctuate. This means that when the earth is closer to the sun the climate is warmer and when it is far the climate is cooler.
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Energy transfers within the atmosphere occur in order to achieve balance in the amount of energy that is received on the earth’s surface from the equator. Giorgioni et al. (2019) affirm that each part of the earth’s surface there is presence of excess radiation except at the poles, which is why there is an imbalance in energy. Therefore, the horizontal heat transfer occurs in order to address the energy imbalance experienced. The horizontal heat transfer of heat energy from the equator to the poles takes place through the ocean currents. This occurs when the water surface that is warmed is transported downwards through conduction and convention. Consequently, radiation is absorbed by water bodies and then converted into heat energy and is released in form of ocean currents. The ocean currents are abiotic features of ocean water, which are continuous and have directed movements. Water density, wind and tides are responsible for directing and moving the ocean currents across the globe. As a result, these currents are experienced globally since they are present on the ocean’s surface and depths.
In recent years, the global temperature has changed leading to climate changes across the world. The increased emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere affects the intensity and magnitude of heat radiation that is released to the earth’s surface. According to Ramanathan & Feng (2009), the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to climate change since they scatter and absorb solar energy and infrared radiation, which also interfere with the chemical properties present in the clouds. The amount of greenhouse gases in the environment is as a result of human activities; whereby industrial gases that are released contribute to the amount of heat retained in the atmosphere and increases the earth’s temperature. The atmospheric global warming of the earth’s surface has led to the thermal expansion which has melted the polar ice caps. This has further contributed to the rise of the sea level and warming of the ocean; thus, causing high temperature stratification.
References
Giorgioni, M., Jovane, L., Rego, E., Rodelli, D., Frontalini, F., Coccioni, R., Catanzariti, R. & Özcan , E. (2019). Carbon cycle instability and orbital forcing during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, Scientific Reports; volume 9, Article number: 9357
Lean, J. (2010). Cycles and trends in solar irradiance and climate. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change . 1: 111-122.
Ramanathan, V. & Feng, Y. (2009). Air pollution, greenhouse gases and climate change: Global and regional perspectives. Atmospheric Environment. 43: 37-50.
Romanou, A., Liepert, B., Schmidt, G. A., Rossow, W. B., Ruedy, R. A., & Zhang, Y. (2007). 20th century changes in surface solar irradiance in simulations and observations. Geophysical Research Letters , 34 (5).
