Rossby waves are large undulations in the flow of the upper air Westerlies along the zone of contact between cold and warm air. They allow warm air to penetrate northward and cold air to penetrate southward. Jet streams are narrow bands of high velocity air that form along the polar front and above the Hadley cell in the subtropics. The uppermost layer of ocean water is the warmest. Ocean currents are persistent, mainly horizontal flows of ocean water set in motion by the prevailing surface winds.
Gyres are circular movements of water that are driven by the subtropical high pressure cells.
Wind and wave energy are indirect forms of solar energy. Wind power has been used for centuries and is on the rise again. Technologies to exploit wave energy are in the planning and testing stages. Use the example of land and sea breezes to illustrate how differential surface heating produces pressure gradients and winds. Define the Corliolis effect and describe how it influences winds and ocean currents at the earth's surface.