Benchmark 4B
The Physical Setting: The Earth
Grades 9-12, page 70

Weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long run) involve the transfer of energy in and out of the atmosphere. Solar radiation heats the land masses, oceans, and air. Transfer of heat energy at the boundaries between the atmosphere, the land masses, and the oceans results in layers of different temperatures and densities in both the ocean and atmosphere. The action of gravitational force on regions of different densities causes them to rise or fall--and such circulation, influenced by the rotation of the earth, produces winds and ocean currents.
 

NSES Content Standard D 
Earth and Space Science: Earth in the Solar System 
Grades 5-8, page 161 
The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earth's surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle. Seasons result from variations in the amount of the sun's energy hitting the surface, due to the tilt of the earth's rotation on its axis and the length of the day. 

NSES Content Standard D 
Earth and Space Science: Energy in the earth system 
Grades 9-12, page 189 
Heating of earth's surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans, producing winds and ocean currents. 

NSES Content Standard D 
Earth and Space Science: Energy in the earth system 
Grades 9-12, page 189 
Global climate is determined by energy transfer from the sun at and near the earth's surface. This energy transfer is influenced by dynamic processes such as cloud cover and the earth's rotation, and static conditions such as the position of mountain ranges and oceans.