Science and weather patterns — 6-topic bundle

Several primary factors influence both weather and climate:

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Why does this happen?
1. Less Atmosphere Above: As mentioned, there's less air above you to absorb and re-radiate heat from the sun. The air is thinner.
2. Air Expansion: As air rises, the atmospheric pressure decreases. This causes the air to expand, and when air expands, it cools down. This is an adiabatic process – no heat is added or removed, but the temperature changes due to pressure changes.

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Surface currents are primarily driven by wind and affect the top few hundred meters of the ocean. They are responsible for much of the heat transfer that impacts coastal climates. Deep-ocean currents, also known as thermohaline circulation, are driven by differences in water density (thermo for temperature, haline for salinity). Cold, salty water is denser and sinks, while warmer, less salty water rises, creating a global "ocean conveyor belt."