Energy Transfer
Radiation from the sun is converted to heat, a form of kinetic energy, as it enters Earth’s atmosphere.Radiation coming from the sun has short wavelengths and high energy. When this radiation reaches the Earth, some of the energy is absorbed by the air, land, and water. But radiation is not the only way that energy, or heat, is transferred through the Earth system. Click on the images below to see examples of each type of heat transfer.
Energy from the sun, in the form of light travels to Earth as Radiation.
Heat is absorbed by dark colored buildings in urban areas and Conducted back into the atmosphere to create the Urban Heat Island Effect.
Warm air rises into the atmosphere and is replaced by cooler air creating Convection Cells, which drive wind currents around the globe.