Question

How does the sun affect the ocean currents, air currents, fronts and masses?

Answer 1

Hint: Ocean Currents are the continuous movement of streams of water in definite directions. Air currents are the mass movement of air from one area to another. Fronts are narrow zones separating two different two opposing masses of air having contrasting characteristics in terms of temperature, humidity and density. Masses or air masses are large magnitudes of air with consistent temperature and moisture.

Complete answer:
The Sun heats the ocean water due to which some water gets evaporated and salt concentration increases in the water at the surface. Because of evaporation, the water becomes dense with high salt concentration. This dense water starts to sink and less dense water rises. This process with continuous mixing of water from the rivers in the ocean changes the salt concentration that leads to ocean currents.
The sun is also responsible for the formation of air currents. The tropical areas or the areas near the equator receive direct sun rays and get heated. When the surface of the Earth gets heated, it warms the air just above it. The warm air expands and becomes lighter compared to the surrounding air. This results in warm air currents. The cooler and heavier air pushes the warm air to replace it, contributing to cool air currents.
The heated air in the atmosphere near the equator moves towards the poles. The cooler air advancing towards the equator meets the warm air. When warm air is more active it pushes the cold air forming the warm fronts, on the other hand, cold air tries to push the warm air resulting in cold fronts. Similarly, solar heat helps the air masses to move from one place to another.

Note:The Sun is responsible for the formation of ocean currents, air currents, fronts and masses. A common phenomenon applies to all i.e. the heat of the Sun warms the air or water making it denser. The less-dense elements rise replacing the denser ones. Thus the sun makes the ocean currents, air currents move from one region to another.