Answer to Question #101118 in Physics for Mary Joy Ranque

Question

How does uneven temperature of the earth surface provides ventilation?

Answer 1

The uneven heating of Earth's surface produces wind because the air temperature and air pressure are different. Cold air sinks, forcing warm air to rise.

Winds are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface due to the Earth's tilt on its axis and its rotational pattern. The amount of heat a given area receives from the Sun will depend on the Earth's angle and where it is in its rotation cycle at a specific moment.

The uneven heating causes temperature differences, which in turn cause air currents to develop, which then move heat from where there is more heat (higher temperatures) to where there is less heat. The atmosphere thus becomes a giant "heat engine", continuously driven by the sun.