What type of air movement is primarily horizontal?

Advection refers to the horizontal transfer of heat and moisture in the atmosphere. This movement occurs when warm air moves into a cooler region, or when cooler air flows into a warmer area. Such horizontal movement is essential for redistributing thermal energy and moisture across different regions, significantly influencing weather patterns and climate conditions.

In contrast, convection involves vertical movement, where warm air rises and cool air sinks, contributing to the formation of clouds and thunderstorms. Conduction deals with heat transfer through direct contact between substances, which does not involve air movement at all. Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into vapor and does not directly involve air movement either. Understanding the distinction between these processes is critical for comprehending atmospheric dynamics and phenomena.