B. Air currents are the result of heating from the sun. The sun differentially heats equatorial and polar regions creating the world's major temperature zones. Oceans, Land Forms, and Regional Climates A. Ocean Currents and Their Effects 1. Ocean water covers 71 percent of the earth's surface. Latitudinal and seasonal variations in solar heating cause ocean water to warm and cool on a vast scale.
Surface waters tend to move from the equator to the poles, warming the air above.
Currents form because of the earth's rotation, winds, variations in temperature, and distribution of land masses. Immense circular water movements in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans influence the distribution of ecosystems. B. Regarding Rain Shadows and Monsoons 1. Topography refers to physical features of a region, such as elevation. Mountains, valleys, and other features influence regional climates.