M07 Convection in Earth's Systems (Pivot Interactives) Earth's natural systems and processes (i.e., the atmosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere) interconnect through the flow of energy. Earth's internal and external energy budget (all energy available to drive system processes) includes energy from the Sun (the majority) and energy from Earth's interior. This energy, converted to heat, moves through Earth systems via heat transfer (energy flow from a warmer object to a cooler one), where heat moves from Earth's interior to the surface and from the surface out to space. Heat transfer mechanisms keeps Earth's energy budget balanced, resulting in climactic conditions just right for life on Earth. One heat transfer mechanism driving phenomena in Earth systems is convection, which affects different Earth systems including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. Defined as vertical circulation due to density differences ultimately started by differences in temperature, convection involves heat transfer through the motion of hot fluid, producing convection currents. Although the term "fluid" typically describes a liquid or a gas, slow-moving solids, such as part of the Earth's mantle, are also considered fluids. Let's further explore the process of convection with the help of a Pivot Interactives experiment