1. Sunlight is a mixture of ultraviolet, visible, and
infrared light. The incoming sunlight represents energy transport
in the form of electromagnetic
radiation.
2. The ground absorbs the incoming sunlight and
warms. Energy is transported by conduction into a
thin layer of air in contact with the ground. It is only a thin
layer because air is a poor conductor of energy.
3. Warm rising air illustrates energy transport by convection
(free convection in this case).
4. Rising air cools. If the air is moist and is
cooled enough (to the dew point temperature) a cloud can form.
Water vapor condenses to form small droplets of water. This phase
change will release latent heat
energy into the surrounding air.