Consider the following statements regarding Earth's heat distribution and its effects:

1. The overall heat budget of Earth is always balanced, and the heat trapping by greenhouse gases have little effect in general

2. The energy surplus region is between 40 degrees north and south of the equator and the energy-deficient region is between 40 degrees and 90 degrees in both hemispheres.

3. Surplus and deficit of the heat/energy received by Earth give rise to both atmospheric and oceanic circulation.

How many of the above statements are correct?

The correct answer is option 2.Key Points

• The Earth's heat budget is not always balanced, as increasing greenhouse gas emissions trap excess heat, leading to climate change.
• Tropical regions (40°N to 40°S) receive surplus solar radiation, whereas polar regions (40°-90°) experience a heat deficit due to less direct sunlight and high reflectivity (albedo).
• The unequal distribution of heat drives both atmospheric circulation (Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells) and ocean currents (Thermohaline Circulation).

Important Points

• The idea that Earth’s heat budget is always balanced is incorrect. While in the past, natural processes helped maintain this balance, human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have created a long-term energy imbalance. This leads to global warming, melting ice caps, and changes in climate patterns.
• The tropics receive more heat than they lose, creating an energy surplus, whereas the polar regions lose more heat than they gain, creating an energy deficit. This difference in heat distribution is the main reason for large-scale atmospheric and oceanic movements.
• The imbalance between energy surplus and deficit leads to circulation patterns. Warm air and ocean currents move from the tropics toward the poles, while cold air and deep ocean currents move toward the equator. This movement creates global wind patterns (like trade winds 
  Role of Greenhouse Gases in Heat Budget:

Additional Information

• Gases like CO₂ (carbon dioxide), CH₄ (methane), and H₂O (water vapor) trap heat in the atmosphere, increasing global temperatures.
• The long-term effect of greenhouse gases is not minor; they can stay in the atmosphere for decades to centuries, continuously warming the planet.
• Data from NASA and the IPCC confirm that the Earth's energy imbalance is increasing due to human activities.

Impact of Heat Imbalance on Global Circulation:

• The Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells form due to heat differences between the equator and poles, driving global wind circulation.
• Jet streams and monsoon systems are affected by variations in heat energy.
• Thermohaline Circulation (the Global Conveyor Belt) is responsible for moving warm surface water toward the poles and bringing cold deep water back to the tropics.

Consequences of Heat Imbalance:

• More extreme weather events due to excess heat being retained in the system.
• Melting ice caps reduce the Earth's albedo, causing even more heat absorption and accelerating global warming.
• Changes in ocean currents affect marine ecosystems and global climate.