Convection

Convection is a process by which heat is transferred in a fluid (liquid or gas) through the movement of heated particles to a cooler area. It plays a significant role in the weather. In meteorology, convection is commonly used to refer to the upward motion of air due to heating. When the Earth’s surface is heated by the sun, it heats the air immediately above it, causing the air to expand and become less dense than the surrounding cooler air. This warmer, lighter air then rises, and cooler, denser air flows in to replace it, setting up a circulating flow of air, which is the process of convection. This process can lead to the development of clouds, and under the right conditions, thunderstorms. Convection is a critical component in the formation of many weather phenomena.