Which of the following explains how the three heat transfers work together to heat the troposphere?
a
The sun heats the ground through conduction. Then, the ground heats the air through radiation. Lastly, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
b
The sun heats the ground through radiation. Then the ground heats the air through conduction. Lastly, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
c
The sun heats the air through radiation. Then, the warm air is carried throughout the troposphere through convection. Lastly, the air heats the ground through conduction.
d
The sun heats the air through convection. Then, the air heats the ground through radiation. Lastly, the ground spreads the heat throughout the troposphere through conduction.
b
The sun heats the ground through radiation. Then the ground heats the air through conduction. Lastly, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
The correct answer is:
(a) The sun heats the ground through conduction. Then, the ground heats the air through radiation. Lastly, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
To determine which option explains how the three heat transfers work together to heat the troposphere, we need to understand conduction, radiation, and convection.
Conduction is the transfer of heat through direct contact. It occurs when a substance with high energy (hot) molecules transfers heat to a substance with lower energy (cool) molecules.
Radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves. In the case of sunlight heating the Earth, the sun emits electromagnetic waves (radiation) that travel through space and interact with the Earth's surface.
Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid (in this case, air). Warm air rises, creating a convection current, and then cooler air sinks to replace it, creating a continuous cycle.
In the given options:
Option a states that the sun heats the ground through conduction, then the ground heats the air through radiation, and finally, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
Option b states that the sun heats the ground through radiation, then the ground heats the air through conduction, and finally, convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
Option c states that the sun heats the air through radiation, then convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere, and finally, the air heats the ground through conduction.
Option d states that the sun heats the air through convection, then the air heats the ground through radiation, and finally, the ground spreads the heat throughout the troposphere through conduction.
Out of the four given options, option b best explains how the three heat transfers work together to heat the troposphere. The sun heats the ground through radiation, the ground heats the air through conduction, and convection carries the warm air throughout the troposphere.
Therefore, option b is the correct answer.