How does atmospheric circulation and oceanic circulation help to transfer heat in the Earth system?

Answer 1

Atmospheric circulation works in the 3 main cells: the Polar cell, the Hadley cell and the Ferrel cell. These 3 cells carry hot air from a low pressure region to a high pressure region. The Hadley cell carries hot air over at the equator to 30 degrees north and south of the equator, where it eventually cools. This also explains the formation of the Trade Winds. The Polar cell carries warmer air from 60 degrees north and south of the equator to the North and South Poles, where it cools along the way. Cold air from the Poles is also brought to 60 degrees north and south of the equator, where it heats up along the way as well. The Ferrel cell is a zone of mixing, where hot air is transferred from the mid-latitudes to the Polar cell and cool air to the Hadley cell. This ensures thermal distribution on Earth's surface.

Oceanic circulation works as ocean currents. These ocean currents bring waters of different temperatures to different latitudes, where heat is the ocean is being distributed. Some examples would be the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is an Atlantic ocean current which brings heated water form the equator to northwest Europe, which explains why it is warmer than other places of the same latitude, like Newfoundland.