Question

marie drew a diagram to describe atmospheric convection. what causes atmospheric convection? a. the suns energy heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise. b. energy from deep in the earth heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise. c. energy from deep in the earth cools the ground, cooling air at the surface and causing the air to sink.

Explanation:

Atmospheric convection is mainly driven by the Sun's energy. The Sun heats the Earth's surface. When the ground is heated, it in turn heats the air near the surface. Warm air is less dense than cold air, so it rises. As it rises, it cools and then sinks back down, creating a convection current. Option B is incorrect because the energy driving atmospheric convection primarily comes from the Sun, not deep - Earth energy (which is more relevant for processes like plate tectonics in some cases but not for atmospheric convection). Option C is wrong as it describes a cooling process which is not the main driver of the rising air in atmospheric convection.

Answer:

A. The Sun's energy heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise.