Describe atmospheric convection.

The primary source of heat for the atmosphere and planet is the sun. The sun heats Earth unevenly causing most of the heat to be absorbed near the equator and less moving toward the poles. This difference in heat gain and heat loss drives the formation of convection cells that control Earth's atmospheric circulation patterns. For example, at the equator, warm air rises and travels in cells towards higher latitudes. As the air cools, it becomes denser and sinks. This happens at around 30 north and south of the equator. The cool air moves back toward the lower latitudes to warm up and eventually rise again, completing the cycle.