Convection currents are movements caused by temperature changes in liquids or gases, creating convection cells. They are responsible for natural phenomena on both large and small scales, including weather patterns, boiling water, and earthquakes.
Convection currents are movements caused by temperature changes in liquid or gaseous bodies. In such bodies, hotter material tends to rise, displacing cooler material, which is circulated elsewhere; the continuous motion created by this process is known as a convection cell. Convective currents are responsible for many phenomena in the natural world, although their importance is often overlooked. The oceans, storm clouds, and the earth’s crust are all large-scale systems affected by these currents. On smaller scales, they can be observed in a pot of boiling water or a cup of coffee.
Heat causes individual molecules of matter to move rapidly. In a fluid, meaning in this case any liquid or gaseous substance, these heated molecules expand, becoming less dense. This causes them to rise within the fluid, displacing any cooler molecules already present. These cooler molecules will move elsewhere in the fluid; if they meet a heat source, they shake and rise, while the previously heated molecules cool down and descend. This effect creates convection cells, which in turn cause convection currents.
Convection currents cause the effects that can be observed in a pan of heating water on a stove. The water at the bottom of the pan, closest to the stove, heats up quickly and rises to the surface. The bubbles demonstrate the agitation of heated water molecules, which circulate the heat until all of the water boils. The effect can be most easily observed by pouring cream into a hot cup of coffee. Even without stirring, the crema will begin to circulate through the hotter coffee, and the color difference in the two liquids makes it easy to observe convection patterns.
On a large scale, convection currents regulate the motion of the atmosphere around the Earth. Sun-warmed air moves to colder regions and areas, causing weather patterns to change. Clouds are created when warm, humid air rises and meets cooler air at higher altitudes. The actions of convection cells on clouds can cause thunderstorms and occasionally more spectacular events. Tornadoes and hurricanes both result from the violent agitation of air and moisture caused by heat moving through the atmosphere.
Among their various other effects, convective currents are also responsible for earthquakes and seismic activity. The earth’s surface is made up of a series of solid land masses floating on currents of liquefied rock. This underground liquid, called magma, is subject to the motion of convection cells, just like other liquids are. Convection currents in magma can cause land masses, called tectonic plates, to rise or collide. This can lead to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other catastrophic seismic activity.
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