Energy is transferred in the atmosphere, in the oceans, and within Earth's interior. This transfer of energy is responsible for many of the events and phenomena that occur on Earth.

For example, the transfer of energy in the atmosphere creates the wind that blows, the storms that brew in the atmosphere, and the clouds that produce the precipitation that falls to the ground.

Energy transfer in the oceans creates the waves that crash ashore.

And the transfer of energy within Earth's interior causes the plates to move along the upper mantle. This movement forms mountains, volcanoes, and causes earthquakes.

The transfer of energy is very significant to life on Earth.

Energy is transferred in three different ways: radiation, conduction, and convection.

Radiation is the transfer of energy through space. Earth's surface is heated by radiation from the Sun. There is no need for direct contact between two objects for heat to be transferred by radiation.

Other examples of radiation include the heat you may feel from a campfire or fireplace.

Heat from a campfire is a type of energy called radiation. Earth's surface is heated by radiation from the Sun, just as your hands or a marshmallow are heated by radiation from a campfire.

Walk across a driveway with bare feet on a hot summer day and you will experience a transfer of energy. Conduction is the transfer of heat by direct contact. In conduction, the heated particles of a substance are transferred to the particles of another substance by direct contact. Conduction is the reason your feet get uncomfortably hot on the driveway and the reason why touching a metal spoon left in a pot of soup on the stove is not a good idea.

Heat is transferred from the hot soup in this picture to the metal spoon by conduction. The spoon is in direct contact with the soup and the heated particles of soup transfer that energy to the spoon.

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a liquid.
Warm liquids (such as air or magma) rise and cooler liquids sink. This is the fundamental driving force in convection. When a fluid is warmed, the heated particles begin to flow. The heat energy of these particles is transferred from one part of the fluid to another.
This heat transfer is the result of differences in density and temperature within a liquid. When a liquid is heated, the particles move faster. These faster moving particles spread apart. This means that the heated particles take up more space. The density decreases. But when a fluid cools, the particles move more slowly and they move closer together. The density of a fluid increases as the temperature decreases.

Take a look at the pot full of water set to boil on the stove in this picture. When the water at the bottom of the pot warms, it expands and becomes less dense. Therefore it rises toward the top of the pot. It will float over the denser, cooler water. Gravity will pull this cooler, denser water to the bottom of the pot where it is heated and expands and then rises. This cycle continues until the entire pot of water is heated.

The constant transfer of heat through a liquid creates convection current. Convection currents are put into motion by the combined effects of the heating and cooling of a fluid, the changes in density of the particles of the fluid, and by the force of gravity. Convection currents will continue as long as there is a source of heat. There are convection currents in the inner layers of Earth and in the atmosphere.
Let's take a look at what drives these convection currents.

Convection in the mantle is the primary way that heat is transferred within Earth.
Convection currents flow in the asthenosphere. These convection currents get their heat from the core and the mantle itself. The hot magma will rise up to the upper part of the asthenosphere. There, it is closer to Earth's surface, and cools. The magma will spread out, thin out, and cool. It sinks back toward the lower mantle to warm again. These continual convection currents are the cause of much movement on Earth's crust. This movement includes the moment of the tectonic plates, which in turn causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Convection currents have been moving inside Earth for at least four billion years!

Convection currents exist in Earth's atmosphere as well. Differences of temperature between the North and South Poles and the equator create giant convection currents in the atmosphere. What is the source of energy for these convection currents? It doesn't come from within Earth this time. It comes from far away. The Sun is the energy source for these convection currents. Warm air rises at the equator and cooler air sinks near the poles. These differences create global winds.

Fun fact: This heat can't last. Eventually, over time, Earth's core will become no hotter than the rest of the planet. This will stop convection in the mantle. Without the convection currents in the mantle, the plates will stop moving and the threat of earthquakes and volcanoes will end.

Global winds on Earth's surface are created by convection currents in the atmosphere. The Sun is the driving force behind these convection currents.