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.
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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.