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climate
The weather found in a certain place over a long period of time is known as the climate. An areas climate determines what kinds of plants can grow and what kinds of animals can survive there. People use information about climates to decide which crops to plant, to prepare for natural disasters, and even to choose the best season for traveling to vacation spots.
Studying Climates
The study of climates is called climatology. Scientists have many tools to help in this study. They set up weather stations on Earth to measure rainfall, temperature, and wind speed. They send weather balloons with special instruments up into the atmosphere. Weather satellites in space also report information to scientists on the ground.
Factors That Affect Climate

Many factors affect climate. These factors include the Sun, oceans, winds, land types, clouds, and human activities. Sunlight affects climate by hitting Earth unevenly. Places near the Equator receive lots of strong sunlight throughout the year. This gives them a hot climate year-round. Places far from the Equator get less strong sunlight, and so they are cooler. Oceans also affect climate. Land near an ocean usually has a milder climate than an inland area. The ocean warms the land in winter and cools it in summer. This happens because water cools and heats more slowly than land. Winds affect climate by carrying warm or cool air to areas. Winds also bring different amounts of moisture. The type of land in an area affects the climate, too. For example, mountain ranges can block cold air. Also, places that are at higher elevations are usually cooler than nearby places at lower elevations. Clouds affect climate by blocking some of the heat received from the Sun during the day. During the night, clouds keep heat from escaping into space. Finally, human activities may affect climate. When people burn fuels such as oil and coal to run cars and heat homes, the fuels release certain gases into the air. These gases trap heat on Earth. Some scientists think that Earth is slowly getting warmer and that this may be because of the extra gases in the air. This idea is known as global warming.
Types of Climates
No two places on Earth have exactly the same climate. Nevertheless, many climates are similar to one another. Some of these general types of climates are tropical, subtropical, cyclonic, polar, and highland. Tropical climates are warm all year and have no winter. They lie near the Equator. Some tropical climates have a lot of rain. Others are dry. Subtropical climates are found north and south of the tropical climates. They have a greater range of temperatures than tropical climates. They also may be humid or dry.
Cyclonic climates are found mostly north of the Equator. In these climates, cold air from the north mixes with warm tropical air from the south. This mixing often causes rain and snow. Cyclonic climates usually have warmer summers and colder winters. Polar climates are very cold. Snow and ice often covers the land. Some polar areas always have a layer of frost, called permafrost, below the soil. Highland climates have a great range of temperature between day and night. They tend to be humid and cooler than the lower lands nearby.
Cite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. "climate." Britannica School. Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. <http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/352972>.
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Weather and the Ocean - river, oceans, temperature, largest, source, effect, marine, Pacific
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Much of the weather experienced on land has its origins over the oceans. Weather is the state of the atmosphere at any given time and place. Earth's oceans and atmosphere are in constant contact, sharing water, gases, and energy. The conditions of one directly affect the conditions of another. Unfortunately for weather predictors, these complex interactions behave according to chaos theory. That is, the outcome of any equation that attempts to describe them is so sensitive to tiny differences in starting conditions that the results appear to be random, or at least very difficult to predict. Uneven heating of Earth creates circulation cells in the atmosphere. Circulation cells exist over each hemisphere, north and south. They are responsible for two-thirds of the heat transfer from tropical to polar regions. As air heats over the equator, it rises and cools. Water vapor condenses and falls as rain in the equatorial zone, drying the air mass as it migrates north or south from the equator, cooling and becoming denser than the air around it. The air mass begins to drop near the subtropical regions at about 30 degrees latitude and is drawn south by the rising tropical air. Two circulation cells are created north and south of the equator, termed Hadley cells. Between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude north and south are the Ferrell cells, which are formed in much the same way except that they rotate the opposite way, north to south. Over the poles, from 60 degrees to 90 degrees latitude, lie the polar cells, again circulating opposite from the Ferrell cells, south to north. * The jet streams are zones of fastmoving west-to-east winds in the upper atmosphere between the Ferrell and Polar cells. Regions of rising air exhibit low pressure and wet weather, whereas areas of downward movement are often
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dry with high pressure and clear skies. The Coriolis effect is caused by movement of air over a rotating Earth. As a result, air masses appear to curve clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, creating wind belts that drive the atmosphere around the Earth. In the Hadley cells, winds travel to the west, bending to the right in the north and left in the south. In the Ferrell cells, winds reverse and flow west to east, again bending to the right in the north and left in the south. The polar cell reverses again and flows east to west, also being influenced by the Coriolis effect. These moving air masses are responsible for the creation and distribution of weather systems throughout the world.
HeatTransfer
Wherever the Sun is perpendicular to Earth's surface, the most heat absorption takes place. Equatorial and tropical regions have a net gain of heat, whereas polar regions experience a net loss. Both air and water currents redistribute heat over Earth. The Sun warms the surface of the ocean and land, which in turn warm the atmosphere from the bottom up. Wherever the atmosphere contacts warm water, evaporation occurs and water vapor and energy are transferred to the air mass. As the moisture-laden air mass rises to high altitudes or passes over a high landmass, it cools and the water vapor condenses and falls as precipitation.
Because weather experts were able to track Hurricane Hugo in 1989 with satellite images before it struck Charleston, South Carolina, many lives were saved in an early evacuation. Three days before crashing into the eastern seaboard of the United States, Hugo churned winds of 325 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour) over the Caribbean.
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The direction of air movements and the temperature of the ocean water determine the direction storm fronts take as well as their intensity.
Hurricanes,Typhoons,andCyclones
A tropical cyclone, variably known as a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone, is a huge rotating air mass, typically having very low pressure, high winds, and torrential rains. Tropical cyclones are the largest storm systems on Earth. Air always moves from areas of high pressure towards areas of low pressure. The speed of the airflow increases as the pressure difference between the two air cells increases and their proximity decreases. Hurricanes begin as low-pressure cells that break off from the equatorial low-pressure belt. They begin to spin due to the Coriolis effect and pick up large amounts of water vapor and heat energy as they pass over the warm tropical water. When wind velocity within the storms reaches 120 kilometers (77 miles) per hour, tropical storms are upgraded to hurricane status. In large hurricanes, wind speeds have reached 400 kilometers (250 miles) per hour. Hurricanes form only in the late summer and fall, when water temperatures reach at least 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit). They travel with the trade winds flowing east to west. Most hurricanes last 5 to 10 days and remain in the tropical region. Some storms, however, pass into the middle latitudes where they can cause great destruction along the east and west coasts of the Americas.
ElNioandLaNia
Changes in the ocean temperature can affect weather patterns around the world. One of these cyclic changes is the El Nio/La Nia effect. El Nios occur when there is an abnormal warming of the ocean waters in the middle and eastern equatorial Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Two cyclones rotate about a point between them, illustrating the Fujiwhara effect. The two storms commonly move off together while still locked in this rotation.
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During normal years, consistent trade winds blow east to west across the ocean surface along the tropical region. If the trade winds along the equator slow or cease, the warm water is allowed to flow back to the middle and eastern Pacific. This layer of warm, nutrient-poor water prevents cold-water upwelling in the eastern Pacific. Without this source of the nutrients, which nourish the algal base of the food chain, the effect on ocean biology is significant. The areas of tropical storm generation are also shifted to the east. The track of the jet stream and approaching storm systems moves south from the wet Pacific Northwest to the dry areas of the Southwest, causing drought in the northern United States and floods in the south. As trade winds increase, the warm water is pushed back to the west, allowing cold nutrient-rich ocean water to rise from below. This is an example of the La Nia effect, which defines a cooling of ocean surface waters. It generally signals decreased storm activity for the lower latitudes and increased storm activity in the higher latitudes.
SEE ALSO C LIMATE AND THE O CEAN ;
El N IO AND L A N IA; O CEAN C URRENTS .
RonCrouse Bibliography Aherns, C. Donald. EssentialsofMeteorology,AnInvitationTotheAtmosphere. Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1993. Garrison, Tom. Oceanography,AnInvitationtoMarineScience.New York: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996. Summerhayes, C. P., and S. A. Thorpe. Oceanography,AnIllustratedGuide.New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996. Thurman, Harold V., and Alan P. Trujillo. EssentialsofOceanography.Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999.
InternetResources
NationalClimateDataCenter.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html> .

* See"ClimateandtheOcean"foradiagramshowingthesecirculationcells.
UserContributions:
2/11/2014
johnphillips
Aug21,2006@3:15pm
What is the term for when the ocean is warmer than the air and then the climate feels a little warmer by the ocean than it does inland- i think its called something like thermodynamics or something great article by the way
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How Do Ocean Currents Affect Inland Weather?

by Andrew Gellert, Demand Media
Weather conditions where people live are partially influenced by the surrounding land and surface features. Considering the size of ocean currents, it's no wonder that they affect the weather near the coast and farther inland to a significant degree. Ocean currents can affect the temperature and type of weather on nearby continents, especially when patterns of above- or below-normal ocean surface temperatures occur around the equator.
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Ocean currents affect much of the world's weather.
OCEAN CURRENTS: BACKGROUND
The ocean is a vast, continuous fluid. The actions of the wind, differences in temperature within the ocean and differences in density and salt concentration all act together to produce the great ocean currents that flow around the world. These currents are large and cyclical, taking the form of loops. In general, currents carry warm water from the equator north to higher latitudes, then cooler water south again to the equator.
CURRENTS AND WEATHER

Currents, being large masses of water at a given temperature, affect the temperature of the air above them. This effect carries over to nearby land areas when a current approaches the shore. For example, the Gulf Stream is a large current that passes near the northeastern area of the United States. The Gulf Stream carries warm water northward, so it keeps the temperature of the Northeast near the stream warmer than it would be otherwise. Currents can also affect precipitation -the Gulf Stream crosses the Atlantic in the north, then passes south near England. The air above the current is unstable, so it causes extra-wet weather for the British Isles.
ENSO EVENTS
Currents are also factors in El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, when seawater in the tropics of the Pacific is either unusually warm (El Nino) or unusually cold (La Nina). This leads to patterns of altered rainfall in the tropics and all over the globe, as oceanic currents carry the unusual temperatures to other regions. During ENSO events, different areas of the Earth experience patterns of extra-wet or extra-dry weather.
TROPICAL CYCLONE
The most dramatic storms in Earth's climate are the tropical cyclones. They take different names in different parts of the globe. For example, in the Atlantic, they are called hurricanes. Currents are a significant part of the formation and strength of tropical cyclones. These cyclones require warm water to form, and the warm water should be 5 degrees or more away from the equator. This ensures that Coriolis forces driven by the Earth's spin will produce rotational energy in the storm. Cyclones also require warm water to grow in strength, so currents like the Gulf Stream that carry warm water all the way up the Atlantic give the cyclones a way to stay strong until they make landfall in the Northeast.
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REFERENCES
UK Environmental Change Network: Factors Affecting Climate(http://www.ecn.ac.uk/what-we-do/education/tutorials-weather-climate/climate/factors-affectingclimate) University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: Ocean Circulation and Atmospheric Circulation(http://www4.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/circulation/ocean_circulation.html) Columbia University: ENSO Events(http://iri.columbia.edu/climate/ENSO/background/pastevent.html) Columbia University: ENSO Basics(http://iri.columbia.edu/climate/ENSO/background/basics.html) Columbia University: ENSO and Climate(http://iri.columbia.edu/climate/ENSO/globalimpact/overview/overview.html) Natural Hazards; Simon Ross(http://books.google.com/books? id=JKTDenQB5nAC&pg=PT60&lpg=PT60&dq=formation+of+tropical+cyclones+not+fully+understood&hl=en)
RESOURCES
American Institute of Physics: Ocean Currents and Climate(http://www.aip.org/history/climate/oceans.htm)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Gellert is a graduate student who has written science, business, finance and economics articles for four years. He was also the editor of his own section of his college's newspaper, "The Cowl," and has published in his undergraduate economics department's newsletter.
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2/11/2014
Discovery Kids :: Tell Me - How does the ocean affect climate?
How does the ocean affect climate?

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Wethinkofthesunasthemain factorinourdailyweather.If it'sasunnyday,it'llprobablybehotandifit'scloudywe'reinforachillyday. Theocean,however,alsoplaysamajorroleintheEarth'sclimateandweather. Itdoesthisbypullingthesun'senergyalongcertainpaths.Forexample,the climateontheWestCoastofAmerica(whereCaliforniais)isusuallypretty mild,sincethewindsarewarmedupbythePacificOcean. Theoceanisabletoabsorbandstoreheatthatitgetsfromthesun.Thewater fromtheoceancanalsoaffectthetemperatureoftheatmosphereandits circulationallovertheworld.Asamatteroffact,theupper10feet(3meters) oftheoceanholdthesameamountofheatasisintheentireatmosphere.Water fromtheoceanisalsothesourceofmostofthewaterintheraincycle.
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HowStuffWorks "How the Ocean Affects Climate"
HowtheOceanAffectsClimate
BrowsethearticleHowtheOceanAffectsClimate
IntroductiontoHowtheOceanAffectsClimate
Whethertheforecastcallsforadryspell,abalmyday,heavysnow,orahurricane,theoceanhasplayedamajorroleinit.Althoughthesunistheenginethatdrives allweatheronEarth,theoceanandatmospheresteerthesun'senergyalongcertainpathstoproducebothregionalclimatesandindividualweatherphenomena.For example,theclimateoftheWestCoastoftheUnitedStatesiskeptmoderatebywindswarmedbythePacificOcean.AndHurricaneMitch,whichresultedinthe deathsofmorethan10,000peopleinCentralAmericain1998,wasspawnedlikeallhurricanesbytheocean. Theoceanplaysacrucialroleindeterminingclimatebecauseofitsabilitytoabsorb,store,andtransportheatfromthesun.Oceanwateralsoaffectsatmospheric temperatureandcirculationaroundtheworld.Furthermore,seawateristhesourceofmostprecipitation. Thetop3meters(10feet)ofwaterintheoceanmostofthisinthetropicsandsubtropicsholdasmuchheatastheentireatmosphere.Theocean'simmenseheat capacitymeansthatittakesahugeamountofheatenergytochangethetemperatureofaregionofthesea.Forinstance,theremustbemanycolddaystomakean areaoftheoceanalittlecoolerandmanyhotdaystomakeitwarmer. Theupshotofthisisthattheoceanrespondsveryslowlytochangesintheseasons,causingittohaveamoderatingeffectonclimate.Theseamakeswintersin coastalregionsabitwarmerandsummersnearthecoastabitcoolerthantheyarefartherinland.
OceanatmosphereInteractions
Theoceancanwarmorcooltheairinanumberofdifferentways.Forexample,whentheairisatalowertemperaturethanseawater,theoceantransfersheattothe loweratmosphere,whichbecomeslessdenseastheheatcausesmoleculesintheairtomovefartherapart.Asaresult,alowpressureairmassformsoverthat partoftheocean.(Conversely,coolorcoldwatersleadtotheformationofhighpressureairmassesasairmoleculesmoveclosertogether.)Becauseairalways flowsfromareasofhigherpressuretothoseoflowerpressure,windsaredivertedtowardthelowpressurearea. Amongwindsthatareaffectedbysuchpressurechangesarethejetstreams,bandsoffastmoving,highaltitudeaircurrents.Jetstreamssupplyenergyto developingstormsatloweraltitudesandtheninfluencetheirmovement.Inthisway,theoceanaltersthedirectionofstormtracks.Somestormsevenreverse directionastheresultofoceaninfluencedairpressurechanges. Theocean'scurrentsmakeitpossiblefortheseweathereffectstobewidelydistributed.Somecurrentscarrywarmwaterfromtropicalandsubtropicalregionstoward thepoles,whileothercurrentsmovecoolwaterintheoppositedirection.TheGulfStreamisacurrentthattransportswarmwateracrosstheNorthAtlanticOcean fromFloridatowardEurope.BeforereachingEurope,theGulfStreambreaksupintoseveralothercurrents,oneofwhichflowstotheBritishIslesandNorway.The heatcarriedinthiscurrentwarmsthewindsthatblowovertheseregions,helpingtokeepwinterstherefrombecomingbitterlycold. Inthisway,theocean'scirculationcompensatessomewhatforthesun'sunequalheatingoftheEarth,inwhichthetropicsreceivemoreenergyfromthesunthanthe poles.Wereitnotforthemoderatingeffectsofoceancurrentsonairtemperatures,thetropicswouldbemuchhotterthantheyareandthepolarregionsevencolder. Besidestransferringheattotheatmosphere,theoceanalsoaddswatertotheairthroughevaporation.Whenthesun'sheatcausessurfacewatertoevaporate,warm watervaporrisesintotheatmosphere.Asthewatervaporriseshigher,itcoolsintotinywaterdropletsandicecrystals,whichcollecttogethertoformlargeclouds. Thecloudssoonreturntheirmoisturetothesurfaceasrain,snow,sleet,orhail.Mostevaporationoccursinthewarmwatersofthetropicsandsubtropics,providing moisturefortropicalstorms. Virtuallyallraincomesfromtheevaporationofseawater.Thoughthismayseemsurprising,itmakessensewhenoneconsidersthatabout97percentofallwateron Earthisintheocean.TheEarth'swatercycle,orhydrologiccycle,consistslargelyoftheneverendingcirculationofwaterfromtheoceantotheatmosphereand thenbacktotheocean.
TheRoleofOceanPhenomena
Thesea'sinfluenceonclimateisperiodicallyhighlightedbytwooceanphenomenathatexertdramaticinfluencesonweatherpatternsacrosstheUnitedStatesand manyothercountries.ThesephenomenaarecalledElNinoandLaNina. DuringanElNinoevent,whichusuallylastsaboutayearandrecurseverytwotosevenyears,easttowesttradewindsinthetropicalPacificweakenorreverse direction.Thechangeinwindscausesoceancurrentstofloweastward,transferringwarmwaterfromthewesternPacifictothecentralandeasternPacific.Alow pressureairmassthetypeofairmassinwhichstormyweatherdevelopsbuildsoverthewarmwatersofthecentralandeasternPacific.Thisairsystemcarries heavyrainfalltothePacificcoastofSouthAmerica.Atthesametime,ahighpressuresystemformsoverthecoolwesternPacificandmayleadtodrought conditionsinSoutheastAsia. BecausethechangesinairpressureassociatedwithElNinodisruptthenormalcirculationoftheatmosphere,weatherpatternsinotherpartsoftheworldarealso altered.IntheUnitedStates,forexample,ElNinoeventsusuallyresultinmilderwintersintheMidwest,heavyrainsintheSouth,anddryconditionsinthePacific Northwest.MeteorologistssaidtheElNinoof19971998ledtosevereflooding,landslides,andseveraldeathsinNorthCarolina,Tennessee,andCalifornia. ALaNinaeventoftendevelopsafteranElNino.LaNinaistheclimaticoppositeofElNinoandoccurswhenstrongtradewindspushwarmsurfacewaterwestward, exposinglowercoolwatersintheeast.Asaresult,aLaNinaepisodeischaracterizedbycoolerthannormalwaterinthecentralandeasternPacificandwarmer thannormalwaterinthewesternPacific.ThissituationcanleadtoseverestormsinSoutheastAsiaanddroughtinSouthAmerica.MeteorologistssaidaLaNina
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HowStuffWorks "How the Ocean Affects Climate"
thatoccurredin19981999alsobroughtheavyrainandsnowtotheupperMidwestandthePacificNorthwest. OceanographersnotedthatconditionstypicalofLaNinacontinuedinto2001,wellbeyondtheonetotwoyearlengthofatypicalLaNinaepisode.Theysaidthiswas probablyduetothedevelopmentofalongtermoceanconditioncalledthePacificDecadalOscillation.Manyscientistsbelievethatthiscondition,whichis characterizedbycoldwatersoffthePacificcoastsofNorthandSouthAmerica,canlast20to30yearsandmayrecureveryfewdecades.Theysaidthiscoldwater phasemightcauseharshwinterweatheracrosstheMidwestandNortheastforyearstocome.
ShorttermandLongtermInfluences
Patternsofwarmandcoldwaterintheoceanleadtothedevelopmentofseasonalweathereventsaswell.Twodramaticexamplesofsucheventsarehurricanes andmonsoons. Hurricanescalled"typhoons"whentheyoccurovertheNorthwestPacificand"tropicalcyclones"whentheyoccurnearAustraliaorovertheIndianOceanare infamousfortheirpowerful,destructivewinds.Theyformwhereoceanwaterwithatemperatureofmorethan26.5degreesC(80degreesF)evaporates.Thewater vaporisabsorbedbythesurroundingair.Asthewarm,moistairrises,theatmosphericpressureoftheairbelowdrops.Coolerairthenswirlsintothislowpressure areaandbeginstorotatearoundthelow.Astheairflowgainsvelocity,windsincreaseinintensity. Hurricanesarewarmweatherphenomena.IntheAtlanticandNortheastPacific,theyaremostcommoninAugustandSeptember,whenwatertemperaturesare highest.TyphoonscanformintheNorthwestPacificthroughouttheyear,butusuallydosoinsummer.TropicalcyclonesoftenstriketheIndianOceanregioninMay andNovember.TheonlysignificanthurricanethreatintheUnitedStatesisontheEastCoastandalongthecoastoftheGulfofMexico.HurricanesintheAtlantic OceancangrowmoreintenseduringLaNinaepisodes. Likehurricanes,monsoonsareatypeofseasonalweathereventresultingfromspecialoceanconditions.Unlikethedestructivenatureofhurricanes,however,the windsofamonsoonbringneededrainsthatirrigatericecropsfortensofmillionsofpeopleinAsia.Disruptionsinmonsoonpatternscanleadtofamine. ThewindsofamonsoonblowcontinuouslybetweenAprilandOctoberfromthesouthwestoverthenorthernIndianOceanandontotheland.Thesewindsarecaused bydifferencesintemperaturebetweenthelandandsea.Duringsummer,thesunheatsthelandmorethanthesea,andtheairoverthelandwarmsandrises.To replacethisair,moistureladenairfromtheseaflowsinland.Asthemoistairrisesovertheland,itcools,andthewatervaporcondensestoformclouds.Thewater inthecloudsthenfallsasrain.Inwinter,whentheseaiswarmerthantheland,theprocessisreversed.Then,cold,dryairoverthelandsinksandspreadsoutto theseafromthenortheast. Theoceannotonlyinfluencesweatherandclimateonashorttermbasis,italsoexertsalongtermeffectonglobalclimate.Oneofthewaysitdoesthisisby absorbingcarbondioxidegasfromtheatmosphere.Carbondioxideisatypeofgreenhousegas,achemicalcompoundthatactsmuchlikeagreenhousetotrapsolar heatintheloweratmosphere.Manyscientistsbelievethatincreasingamountsofcarbondioxide,releasedintotheairbytheburningoffossilfuels,aregradually raisingthetemperatureofEarth'ssurfaceinaprocesscalledglobalwarming.Researchersanticipatethatoneresultofglobalwarmingmaybethemeltingofglaciers andicecaps,withasubsequentriseinoceanlevels. Buttheoceanmaybehelpingtoslowglobalwarmingthroughitsabilitytoremovevastquantitiesofcarbondioxidefromtheatmosphere.Itisabletodothismainly becauseoftheactivityoftinyorganismscalledphytoplankton.Thesemicrobescarryoutphotosynthesis,theuseofenergyfromthesuntomakefoodfromthe chemicalcombinationofcarbondioxideandwater.Manyresearchersbelievethatwereitnotfortheabsorptionofcarbondioxidebymarineorganisms,global warmingwouldbeoccurringatamuchfasterratethatitactuallyis.
MuchRemainsUnknown
Whetherharmfulorbeneficialtopeople,theclimatedependsontheocean.Theinteractionsbetweentheoceanandatmospherearesointricateandcomplexthat weatherforecastersin2001hadalongwaytogountiltheycouldmakereliablelongtermforecasts.Nonetheless,theinterplaybetweenwaterandairisabasicfact ofeverydaylife.Sothenexttimeyouwalkintherain,watchsnowfall,bundleupagainstthecold,orbaskinbrightsunshine,remembertheawesomepowerthatthe oceanhasovertheweather.
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How Do Ocean Currents Affect Weather? | eHow
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How Do Ocean Currents Affect Weather?

ByEthanSchowalterHay,eHowContributor
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Ocean currents have a significant impact on weather. The greatest are well established flows set in motion by the earth'srotationandwinds,whichtaketheformofmassive rotating currents north and south of the Equator in the NorthernandSouthernHemispheres,andaneastflowing current in the Southern Ocean. One of the most important weathermaking characteristics of these huge currents is theirconveyanceofheatandcoldacrossgreatdistances.
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How Do Ocean Currents Effect Climate & Weather? How Are Weather & Climate Affected by Oceans?
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Temperature
In general, the ocean affects landward temperatures by moderating them: Such a huge body of water warms and cools far less rapidly than terrestrial environments, and coastal areas often see lower temperatures in summer and warmer ones in winter than places farther inland. But the great ocean currents of the world can have additional effects. Currents from equatorial areas may transport balmy air far north. The Gulf Stream, for example, which originates in the Gulf of Mexico, permits coral reef formation off Florida and Bermuda--farther north than the normal tropical zone of reef development--and warms northwestern Europe beyond, say, the portion of North America at the same latitude.
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Little Ice Age

Indeed, evidence suggests that a reduced Gulf Stream flow may have helped trigger the so-called Little Ice Age of northwestern Europe from the 13th to the 19th centuries. During this period, temperatures were persistently reduced, resulting in longer winters, decreased growing season, increasing mountain glaciers and other major effects.
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How Do Ocean & Wind Currents Affect Weather & Climate?
How Does the Ocean Affect Weather?

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Fog And Benguela Current

The clashing air temperatures induced by the wide-traveling currents of the ocean impact cloud cover and precipitation. There are several great rotating currents in the world's oceans, which have westward-flowing waters at the equator that shift poleward in conveyer-belt fashion to come around again. Where they skirt continents, these gyres, as they are called, can significantly affect local weather. For example, southwesterly winds flowing onshore in southwestern Africa are cooled by the Benguela Current, the northward arm of the South Atlantic Gyre. This produces persistent fog over the Namib Desert, providing critical moisture to the environment--and also posing a navigational hazard, as the wrecks of Namibia's Skeleton Coast attest to.
How Do Ocean Currents Affect a Region's Climate?
Ocean Currents Activities for Middle School
Gulf Stream And Labrador Current

Fog also results at the boundaries of the warm Gulf Stream flowing northeastward and the cold southward Labrador Current in the North Atlantic. Warmed air off the Gulf Stream cools as it drifts over the Labrador, condensing. As in the Namib, this regular fog--together with icebergs shed from Greenland, chronic to that stretch of ocean--make for sometimes sinister seafaring conditions.
How Do Ocean Currents Affect Inland Weather?
How Does Latitude Affect Climate?
Precipitation
Warming temperatures transported by ocean currents can promote atmospheric instability and the potential for precipitation and storms. This is the case for air masses over the western boundary currents of the North Pacific and North Atlantic gyres, the Kuroshio and Gulf Stream, respectively.
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References
Florida Museum of Natural History: Coral Reefs - Geographical Distribution "Cosmos Magazine"; Weakened Gulf Stream Caused Little Ice Age; Agence France-Presse; November 2006 Encyclopedia of Earth: Namib Desert "An Introduction to Environmental Systems"; G.H. Dury; 1981 "Oceanography"; M. Grant Goss; 1985
Resources
Smithsonian: Ocean Planet: Ocean Currents Earth Gauge: Winter Storm Track Variability in the Northern Hemisphere Environmental History Resources: Little Ice Age
PhotoCreditoceanimagebysergey2008fromFotolia.comfogsandwichedbetweenoceanandbluesky imagebyJohnCarletonfromFotolia.com
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The Ocean and Climate
TheOceanandClimate
Wearenotmerelyinhabitantsofaplanet,adaptingourselvestoit.Lifehasverilyconstructedtheplanet.Itwouldnotbehaveas itdoes,eveninitsdeepinterior,wereitnotforlife.[Mostofthatlifewasintheocean.] (Oldroyd1996:297)
WhatisClimate
Traditionally,climatehasbeendefinedastheaverageweather:temperature,precipitation,cloudiness,andhowthesevariableschange throughouttheyear.Now,earthsystemscienceleadstoamuchbroaderdefinition. Formany,theterm"climate"referstolongtermweatherstatistics.However,morebroadlyandmoreaccurately,thedefinitionof climateisasystemconsistingoftheatmosphere,hydrosphere,lithosphere,andbiosphere.Physical,chemical,andbiological processesareinvolvedininteractionsamongthecomponentsoftheclimatesystem.Vegetation,soilmoisture,andglaciers,for example,areasmuchapartoftheclimatesystemasaretemperatureandprecipitation. Pielke(2008).
TheOceanandOceanLifeStronglyInfluencedEarth'sClimateOverBillionsofYears
Earthistotallydifferentfromwhatitwouldbeifithadnoocean.Theocean,andlifeintheocean,have"constructedtheplanet."Theoceanis animportantpartoftheEarthSystem,anditinfluencesthetransformationofenergyandmaterialsimportanttotheclimatesystem.Onthemost basiclevel,theoceanhasshapedouratmosphere.Overmillionsofyears,theconcentrationofgasesintheatmosphereisdeterminedbylife. Iflifedidnotexist,especiallylifeintheocean,earthwouldbeverydifferent.Onadeeperlevel,oceanicmicrobesirreversiblyalteredthe geochemistryofearthandthebiogeochemicalcyclesofH,C,N,OandS. Pleasenote,thereisonlyoneoceanwithmanynamedparts.ThelargestpartsaretheAtlantic,Indian,andPacificOceans.Earthwouldbe muchdifferentiftherewereseveraldifferent,disconnectedoceans. TheevolutionofphotosynthesisremadetheArchaeanEarth.Beforephotosynthesis,theairandoceanswereanoxic.Nowthe airisabiologicalconstruction,afifthofwhichisfreemolecularoxygen,andtheoceancansustainanimallifeeveninthe depths.Theevolution,firstofanoxygenic[notproducingoxygen]andthenofoxygenic[producingoxygen]photosynthesis, sharplyincreasedtheproductivityofthebiosphere.Oxygenicphotosynthesissustainsfreeoxygenintheatmosphere.Inthe oceans,thebeneficiariesofthefirstphotosyntheticprokaryotes[bacteriaandarchaea]todayrangefromcyanobacterialand algalplanktontolargekelp.Wearingplantsaslandsuits,fromtinymossestogiantredwoods,cyanobacteriaaschloroplasts haveoccupiedtheland.Theoxygenemittedhasallowedtheevolutionofanimallife,tobrowsetheplantsand,inturn,torespire theCO2 thatsustainsphotosynthesis. Themanagementofthecarboncycle,byphotosynthesiscoupledwithrespiration,hadprofoundconsequencesforthe greenhousesettingofthesurfacetemperature.Photosyntheticproductivitycontrolsthebudgetsofatmosphericcarbondioxide and,eventually,methanetoo.Thissetsglobaltemperatures,weatherpatternsandmayhaveevenbeenacauseofthegreat glacialevents,wheremuchoftheEarthssurfacefrozeover. Bendalletal(2008). 1. Carbondioxide,themostcommongasonVenusisrareinearth'satmospherebecauseoceanicanimalshaveusedcarbondioxideto makevastlayersofcarbonatesintheformoflimestone,dolomite,andmarble.Withoutlife,ouratmospherewouldbesimilartothatof Venus.Mostsedimentaryrockswerelaiddownintheocean.
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/oceansandclimate.htm
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ElCapitan,CapitanReef,GuadalupeMountainsNationalPark,Texas.ThisisacoralreefisfromthePermian.PhotographbyMark Eberle,November1999. From:NaturalHistoryoftheSouthwesternUnitedStates,aFortHayesStateUniversitycoursetaughtbyMarkEberle. 2. FreeoxygenO2 whichisnotfoundintheatmosphereofotherplanets,isproducedbylife.Itisfoundintheatmospherebecauseof productionbyphotosynthesisandthedepositionoforganiccarbononthetheseafloorandtheeventualinclusionoftheorganic carbonintocontinentalrocksbyplatetectonicsactingovermanymillionsofyears(FalkowskiandGodfrey,2008).Theorganiccarbon isstoredinsedimentaryrocksoncontinentsintheformofoilshale,coal,oil,andnaturalgas. 3. Oxygenintheatmosphereledtotheformationofearth'sstratosphericozonelayerwhichprotectsalllifefromsolarultravioletradiation.
TheOceanStronglyInfluenceEarth'sPresentClimate
Theoceandrivestheatmosphericcirculationbyheatingtheatmosphere,mostlyinthetropics. 1. Mostofthesunlightabsorbedbyearthisabsorbedatthetopofthetropicalocean.Theatmospheredoesnotabsorbmuchsunlight.Itis tootransparent.Thinkofacold,sunny,winterdayatyourschool.Alldaylong,thesunshinesontheoutside,buttheairstayscold.But ifyouwearablackcoatoutsideandstandoutofthewind,thesunwillquicklywarmupyourcoat.Sunlightpassesthroughtheairand warmsthesurfaceoftheocean,justasitwarmsthesurfaceofyourcoat.Mostoftheoceanisadeepnavyblue,almostblack.It absorbs98%ofthesolarradiationwhenthesunishighinthesky.
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Heatingofearth'ssurfacebysolarradiation,inW/m2 ,calculatedfromtheECMWF40yearreanalysisofatmosphericdata.Noticethat mostoftheheatabsorbedbyearthgoesintothetropicalocean. FromKallbergetal2005. 2. Theoceanlosesheatbyevaporation(thetechnicaltermislatentheatrelease).Thinkofthisastheoceansweating.Tradewindscarry theevaporatedwatervaportotheInterTropicalConvergenceZonewhereitcondensesasrain.Condensationreleasesthelatentheat andwarmstheair.Warmairrises,furtherdrawinginwarmwetair,releasingmoreheat.Largeareasofthetropicaloceangetmore than3m(115inches)ofraineachyear(8mm/dayinthefigurebelow). a. SomuchheatisreleasedbyrainintheInterTropicalConvergenceZonethatitdrivesmuchoftheatmosphericcirculation.This circulationiscalledtheHadleycirculation. b. Heatreleasedbyraininhigherlatitudesdrivesstormsandwinds. c. Heatreleasedbyraininhurricanesandthunderstormsdrivesthesestorms.
25yearaverageofrainrate. FromJapanMeteorologicalAgency,Japanese25yearReanalysis(JRA25)Atlas.
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25yearaverageofheatingoftheatmosphere.Noticethehighcorrelationwithrainrateshownabove.Rainandabsorptionof infraredradiationheatstheatmosphere,mostlyinthetropics.Thisheatingdrivestheatmosphericcirculation. FromJapanMeteorologicalAgency,Japanese25yearReanalysis(JRA25)Atlas.
Left:RaininthetropicswarmstheatmosphereanddrivestheHadleycirculation. ImagefromTheWhyFiles. Right:TheHadleycells(circulation)areamajorpartoftheclimatesystem.Clickonimageforazoom. ImagefromNASAEarthObservatory.. 3. Theoceanalsolosesheatbysendingoutinfraredradiation(energy),mostlyinthetropics.Theinfraredradiationisabsorbedbywater vaporinthetropicalatmosphere,furtherheatingtheatmosphere. 4. Thewindsdriveoceancurrents,andtogethertheycarryheatfromthetropicstothepolarregions.SeeTheClimateSystembelow. Theoceandominatesearth'shydrologicalcycle. 1. Allbut3%ofearth'swaterisintheocean.SeeTheHydrologicalCycle. 2. Theoceansuppliesalmostallthewaterthatfallsonland.Watchmoisturestreamfromthetropicsintomidlatitudeswhereitfallsasrain inthisvisualizationforJanuaryandforAugustfromtheVisualizationGroupattheNationalCenterforAtmosphericResearch. Theoceanandoceanlifecontroltheamountofcarbondioxideintheatmosphere,andtheydominateearth'scarboncycle. Carbondioxideisagreenhousegas.Byabsorbinginfraredradiation(energy)fromtheearth'ssurface,ithelpskeepthesurfacewarm.The amountofcarbondioxideintheairisincreasing,partlybecauseweburnfossilfuelssuchascoal,naturalgas,andoil.Theincreasing amountsofcarbondioxidearecausingearthtoslowlywarmup.Tounderstandthewarming,wemustunderstandhowtheoceancontrols earth'scarboncycle. 1. Mostoftheavailablecarbonisintheocean.Theoceanholds50timesmorecarbonthantheatmosphere. 2. Abouthalfofearth'sprimaryproduction,theconversionofwater,carbondioxide,sunlight,andinorganicnutrientsintooxygenand hydrocarbons,occursintheocean.Primaryproducersintheoceanarethephytoplankton.Theyalsoproduceoxygenasabyproduct ofthisreaction. a. Whenthephytoplanktondieanddecay,orwhentheyareeaten,thehydrocarbonsareconvertedbacktocarbondioxide,using upalltheoxygenproducedbythephytoplankton. b. But,sometimesphytoplanktonandotherlifeintheseadieandsinktotheseafloorbeforetheycandecay.Whentheyare buriedinthesediments,theyleavebehindtheoxygenproducedbythephytoplankton.Overmillionsofyearsthisproducedthe oxygenintheatmosphere.Italsoproducedtheoil,gas,andcoalwenowusetomakeelectricity,heatourhomes,andrunour carsandtrucks.Wecallthisprocessthebiologicalpumpthattakescarbondioxideoutoftheair. 3. Almostexactlyhalfofthecarbondioxideputintotheairbyourburningoffossilfuelsisabsorbedbytheocean.Carbondioxide dissolvesincoldwaterneartheArcticandAntarctic.Whenthecoldwatersinksdeepintotheoceaninwinter,itcarriesthecarbon dioxideawayfromtheatmosphere.Manyyearslater,thewaterisgraduallypulledclosertotheseasurfacebymixingintheocean. Whenitgetstothesurfaceinwarmareasitreleasesthecarbondioxidebacktotheair.Thisprocessallowstheoceantostoregreat quantitiesofcarbondioxideformanycenturies.Wecallthisthephysicalpumpthattakescarbondioxideoutoftheair. 4. Thebiosphereexpandsandcontractsona450,000yearcycleinresponsetochangesininsolation(incomingsunlightatdifferent latitudes).Thelongperiodisduetolongtermstorageofcarbonintheoceanandthedissolvingofcarbonateontheseafloor.Palike (2006). Phytoplanktonstronglyinfluencecloudformation. Cloudsinfluencethereflectionsunlightfromearth,whichinfluencesearth'stemperature(MeskhidzeandNenes(2006).Thephytoplankton releasegreatquantitiesofasulfurousgascalleddimethylsulfidewhichchangesthewaycloudsareformedintheatmosphere.First,sunlight causeschemicalreactionsthatchangethegastosulfateaerosols(microscopicparticlesintheair).Thetinyaerosolparticlescausewater vaportocondensetoformclouddrops.Becauseaboutonethirdofthesunlightreachingearthisreflectedbacktospacebyclouds,any processthatinfluencescloudinessalsoinfluencestheamountofsunlightthatisabsorbedbyearth.
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Phytoplanktonintheoceanproducedimethylsulfide(DMS)thatisconvertedtosulfateaerosols(SO4 ),whichinfluencethe amountofsunlightreflectedbyclouds. FromOceanicDimethylsulfide(DMS)andClimatebytheAtmosphericChemistryProgramattheNationalOceanicand AtmosphericAdministration'sPacificMarineEnvironmentalLaboratory. Theoceanstoresandtransportsheat. Temperatureintheatmosphere,evenglobalchangesintemperatureareslowedbytheexchangeofheatwiththeocean.Thus,18timesmore heathasbeenstoredintheoceansincethemid1950sduetoglobalwarmingthanhasbeenstoredintheatmosphere.Mostoftheheat trappedbygreenhousegaseshasgoneintotheocean,nottheatmosphere. Earth'sclimateistheresultoftheunevendistributionofthetemperatureatthesurface.Thedifferenceintemperaturebetweenthepolesand thetropicseventuallyleadstowindsandoceancurrentsthatcarryheatheatfromthetropicstothepolarregions.Theoceancarriesheatoutof thetropics,andthewindscarryheattohigherlatitudes. 1. Thetropicsarewarmbecausetheyreceivesomuchsunlight. 2. Thepolesarecoldbecausetheyreceivemuchlesssunlight,andbecausethepolaratmosphereistransparenttoinfraredradiation. Theyradiateawaymuchmoreheatthantheyreceivefromthesun.
Zonalaverageofheatgainedfromthesun(redline)andlosttospacebyemittedinfraredradiation(greenline). ImagefromLyndonStateCollegeSurveyofMeteorologycoursebyNolanAtkins.
Thisplotshowsthezonalaverageofheattransportedbytheatmosphereandtheoceaninunitsofpetawatts(PW=1015 Watts)(solid blackline),bytheocean(reddashedline),andbytheatmosphere(bluedashedline),averagedalonglinesofconstantlatitude.The oceanisimportantforcarryingheatoutofthetropics,andtheatmosphereisimportantatlatitudesgreaterthan20. FromWunsch(2005).TheTotalMeridionalHeatFluxandItsOceanicandAtmosphericPartition.JournalofClimate,18:23742380.

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3. Thetransportofheatisinfluencedbymanyotherpartsoftheearthsystem. a. Continentsinterruptordeflectwindsandcurrents. b. Lifeonearthhaschangedthecompositionoftheatmosphere,whichhaschangedthewayheatgetsfromearth'ssurfaceto space. c. Watervaporintheatmospherealsoinfluencesthewayheatgetsfromearth'ssurfacetospace.Watervaporisthemost importantgreenhousegas. d. Waterevaporatedfromtheoceancarriesheatintotheatmosphere,anditwarmstheatmospherewhenitcondensesas precipitation.Mostoftheheatingoccursinthetropicalrainbelts. Variationsintheocean'scirculationhavebeenimplicatedinabruptclimatechangeduringthelast400,000years. SeeAbruptClimateChangewebpage.
TheOceanInfluencesRegionalClimate
1. Thedifferenceintemperaturebetweenthelandandtheoceandrivesmonsoons.Duringthewinter,thecenterofacontinentismuch colderthanthesurroundingocean.Thiscausescoldairtoflowoutofthecontinent.Duringthesummer,thecenterofcontinentismuch hotterthantheocean.Thisdrawsmoistairintothecontinentbringmuchneededsummerrains.Monsoonwindsareespecially importantforAsiaandNorthAmerica.Arizona,andtheAmericansouthwestgetsummerrains FfromtheNorthAmericanmonsoon. IndiagetsrainduringtheAsianmonsoon.
Arizonathunderstorm.SuchstormsintheAmericanwestarecommoninsummerduetotheNorthAmericanmonsoon.Clickonthe imageforazoom. FromtheNationalWeatherServiceForecastOfficeFlagstaffArizona'sarticleonthemonsoon. 2. Citiesalongcoastsbenefitfromtheseabreeze.Ittooisduetothedifferenceintemperaturebetweenthelandandtheocean.During thenightthelandiscooler,andduringthedayitiswarmer.Thecontrastintemperaturecauseswindstoblowtowardtheoceanat night,andtowardthelandduringtheday.
InfluenceofGreenhouseGasesEspeciallyWaterVapor
Let'slookathowgreenhousegasesinfluencetheclimatesystem,andhowtheymightcauseclimatechange.Theideasbelowcomefrom GeorgePhilander'sbook,OurAffairWithElNio,chapter7:ConstructingaModelofEarth'sClimate,page105. 1. Earthwithnoatmosphere Ifearthhadnoatmosphere,ifithadalandsurfacethatreflectedsomesunlightliketherealearth,andifitwereinequilibriumwithsolar heating,theaveragesurfacetemperatureofearthwouldbe18C(0F),farcolderthantheaveragetemperatureofourearth,whichis 15C(59F).Worse,thesurfacewouldcooldowntoaround160C(250F)soonafterthesunsetbecausethesurfacewouldradiate heattospaceveryquickly,justasthemoon'ssurfacecoolsrapidlyassoonasthesunsetsonthemoon. 2. Earthwithastaticatmosphereandnoocean Iftheearthhadastaticatmospherewiththesamegasesithasnow,butwithlittlewatervaporandnoocean,theaveragesurface temperatureofearthwouldbe67C(153F).Thisismuchwarmerthanourearth.Theplanetwouldbesohotbecausegreenhouse gasesintheatmospherehelpkeepheatnearthesurface,andbecausethereisnoconvection,andnotransportofheatbywinds. Addingwindscoolstheplanetalittle,butnotenough. 3. Earthwithanatmosphereandocean
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3. Earthwithanatmosphereandocean Earthhasanatmosphereandocean,andtheaveragesurfacetemperatureisacomfortable15C(59F).Waterevaporatesfromthe oceanandland,coolingthesurface.Windscarrythewatervaportootherlatitudes,andsometimeshighupintotheair,whereheatis releasedwhenthevaporcondensestowater.
ThisverylargethunderstormwasphotographedbyastronautsflyingovertheIndianOcean,eastofMadagascar(25.0N,56.0E). Thestormisabout65nauticalmilesonasideandhasatopthatreachesintothestratosphereat45,000to50,000ft.andcasts longshadowsinthelowsun.Suchstormscarryheatfromthetropicalseashighintotheatmosphere,coolingthesurface. ImagefromCamex4Program,NASAMarshallSpaceFlightCenter.OriginalfromNASAJohnsonSpaceCenter.
EverythingIsConnected
Fromthissimplediscussionoftheclimatesystem,wecanconcludethatwemustunderstandhowearth,withitsatmosphere,greenhouse gases,ocean,life,winds,andcurrentsallinteracttoproduceourclimate.Theoceanisonebigpartoftheearthsystem.Theocean, atmosphere,andlandareconnectedthroughtheclimatesystem.Changesinoneareacausechangeseverywhereelse.Everythingis connected,andeverythinginfluenceseverythingelse. Forexample,rainheatstheatmosphere.Thewarmairrises,creatingwind.Winddrivesoceancurrents.Currentshelpdeterminewhere phytoplanktonlive.Phytoplanktonhelpdeterminewherecloudsareformed.Cloudsinfluenceswheretheatmosphereisheated.Heating determineswheretheoceanevaporates,andtheamountofevaporation.
Therearemanyinteractingpartsintheearthsystem. Asaresultoftheseconnections:
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1. Earthhasasurfacetemperaturethatisjustrightforlife.Watervaporfromtheoceanisessentialforsettingtheearth'stemperature. 2. Thetropicaloceansuppliesalmostallthewaterthatfallsonland. 3. Theoceanabsorbshalfofthecarbondioxidereleasedbyourburningoffossilfuels.Thisreducesglobalwarmingcausedbycarbon dioxide. 4. Somuchheatisabsorbedbytheoceans,thatthethewarmingofearth'ssurfacebygreenhousegasesissloweddown.84%ofthe energyavailabletowarmearth'ssurfacehasgoneintotheoceanduringthe48yearsfrom1955to20035%hasgoneintotheland 4%hasgoneintotheatmosphereandtheremainderhasgoneintomeltingice.(Levitus,2005).
Conversionfactorsfortemperature
1. 0degreesCelsius=273.15Kelvin 2. DegreesFahrenheit=9/5Celsius+32 3. So,zerodegreesCelsius=32degreesFahrenheit
References
Bendall,D.S.,C.J.Howe,etal.(2008).Introduction.Photosyntheticandatmosphericevolution.PhilosophicalTransactionsoftheRoyal SocietyB:BiologicalSciences363(1504):26252628. Oldroyd,D.R.(1996).ThinkingAbouttheEarth:AHistoryofIdeasinGeology.CambridgeMassachusetts,HarvardUniversityPress. Falkowski,P.G.andL.V.Godfrey(2008).Electrons,lifeandtheevolutionofEarth'soxygencycle.PhilosophicalTransactionsoftheRoyal SocietyB:BiologicalSciences363(1504):27052716. ThebiogeochemicalcyclesofH,C,N,OandSarecoupledviabiologicallycatalysedelectrontransfer(redox)reactions.The metabolicprocessesresponsibleformaintainingthesecyclesevolvedoverthefirstca2.3GaofEarth'shistoryinprokaryotes and,throughasequenceofevents,ledtotheproductionofoxygenviathephotobiologicallycatalysedoxidationofwater. However,geochemicalevidencesuggeststhattherewasadelayofseveralhundredmillionyearsbeforeoxygenaccumulated inEarth'satmosphererelatedtochangesintheburialefficiencyoforganicmatterandfundamentalalterationsinthenitrogen cycle.Inthelattercase,thepresenceoffreemolecularoxygenallowedammoniumtobeoxidizedtonitrateandsubsequently denitrified.Theinteractionbetweentheoxygenandnitrogencyclesinparticularledtoanegativefeedback,inwhichincreased productionofoxygenledtodecreasedfixedinorganicnitrogenintheoceans.Thisfeedback,whichissupportedbyisotopic analysesoffixednitrogeninsedimentaryrocksfromtheLateArchaean,continuestothepresent.However,oncesufficient oxygenaccumulatedinEarth'satmospheretoallownitrificationtooutcompetedenitrification,anewstableelectron'market' emergedinwhichoxygenicphotosynthesisandaerobicrespirationultimatelyspreadviaendosymbioticeventsandmassive lateralgenetransfertoeukaryotichostcells,allowingtheevolutionofcomplex(i.e.animal)lifeforms.Theresultingnetworkof electrontransfersledagascompositionofEarth'satmospherethatisfarfromthermodynamicequilibrium(i.e.itisanemergent property),yetisrelativelystableongeologicaltimescales.TheearlycoevolutionoftheC,NandOcycles,andtheresulting nonequilibriumgaseousbyproductscanbeusedasaguidetosearchforthepresenceoflifeonterrestrialplanetsoutsideof ourSolarSystem. Meskhidze,N.andA.Nenes(2006).PhytoplanktonandCloudinessintheSouthernOcean.Science314(5804):14191423. KallbergP.,P.Berrisford,etal.(2005).ERA40Atlas.EuropeanCentreforMediumRangeWeatherForecasts. Levitus,S.,J.Antonov,etal.(2005).Warmingoftheworldocean.GeophysicalResearchLetters32(1). Palike,H.,R.D.Norris,etal.(2006).TheHeartbeatoftheOligoceneClimateSystem.Science314(5807):18941898. Philander,S.G.(2004).OurAffairWithElNio,PrincetonUniversityPress. PielkeSr,R.A.(2008).Abroaderviewoftheroleofhumansintheclimatesystem.PhysicsToday61(11):5455. Wunsch(2005).TheTotalMeridionalHeatFluxandItsOceanicandAtmosphericPartition.JournalofClimate,18:23742380. Revisedon:21December,2012
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Weather Wiz Kids weather information for kids
Climate
What is climate?
Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere.
What is our climate system?

The atmosphere covers the Earth. It is a thin layer of mixed Atmosphere gases which make up the air we breathe. This thin layer also helps the Earth from becoming too hot or too cold. Oceans Land Oceans cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface. Their large size and thermal properties allow them to store a lot of heat. Land covers 27 percent of Earth's surface and land topography influences weather patterns. Ice is the world's largest supply of freshwater. It covers the remaining 3 percent of Earth's surface including most of Antarctica and Greenland. Ice plays an important role in regulating climate, because it is highly reflective. The biosphere is the part of Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans that supports any living plant, animal, or organism. It is the place where plants and animals, including humans, live.
Ice
Biosphere
What is weather?
The weather is just the state of the atmosphere at any time, including things Home Weather Wiz Kids Store Hurricanes Tornadoes Winter Storms Clouds Rain & Floods Thunderstorms Lightning Wind Temperature Wildfires Earthquakes Volcanoes Climate Optical Illusions Weather Forecasting Weather Experiments Weather Safety Weather Games Weather Flashcards such as temperature, precipitation, air pressure and cloud cover. Daily changes in the weather are due to winds and storms. Seasonal changes are due to the Earth revolving around the sun.
What causes weather?
Because the Earth is round and not flat, the Sun's rays don't fall evenly on the land and oceans. The Sun shines more directly near the equator bringing these areas more warmth. However, the polar regions are at such an angle to the Sun that they get little or no sunlight during the winter, causing colder temperatures. These differences in temperature create a restless movement of air and water in great swirling currents to distribute heat energy from the Sun across the planet. When air in one region is warmer than the surrounding air, it becomes less dense and begins to rise, drawing more air in underneath. Elsewhere, cooler denser air sinks, pushing air outward to flow http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-climate.htm
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Weather Flashcards Weather Jokes Weather Folklore Weather Words Weather Instruments Weather Photos Career Corner Ask Crystal About Crystal Kids Questions Weather Links Site Advertising
in underneath. Elsewhere, cooler denser air sinks, pushing air outward to flow along the surface and complete the cycle.
Why do mountains affect weather and climate?

There are two sides to a mountain: wayward and leeward. Whenever it is raining, the wayward side gets the rain. As a cloud goes up the mountain, it keeps raining until there is no more water in the cloud. Now, as the cloud starts to go down the other side of the mountain, there is no more precipitation. So, the leeward side of the mountain doesn't get any rain. The flat ground on this side of the mountain is dry and humid.
What is the Water Cycle?

Earth has a limited amount of water. So, that water keeps going around. We call it the water cycle. The water cycle begins with evaporation. Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes or the ocean. Then turns it into water vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the body of water and goes into the air. Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water out of their leaves. Condensation is when water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into water to form clouds. Think of it this way, when you open a cold soda on a hot summer day, your soda will start to sweat as water droplets form on the outside of the can. Precipitation occurs when so much water has condensed that the air can't hold it anymore. This is how we get rain or snow. Collection happens when the precipitation falls and is collected back in the oceans, lakes and rivers. When it falls to the ground, it will soak into the earth and become ground water. This is the water cycle and it just keeps repeating.
Click Here to learn more about the Earth's water cycle. Why do we have seasons?
As the Earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the Sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires 365 1/4 days to complete. The Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees and is why we have seasons. When the Earth's axis points towards the Sun, it is summer for that hemisphere. When the Earth's axis points away, winter can be expected.
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-climate.htm
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What is the significance of the Sun to the Earth?

Without the Sun, there would be no weather. Earth is positioned as the third planet, so our temperatures are sustainable for life. The average temperature of Mars is much colder, while Venus is much hotter.
How can you tell what time it is by looking at the Sun?

Because the sun ALWAYS rises in the east and sets in the west, you can tell the time just by looking at where the sun is. When you look east and the sun is on the horizon that means its approximately 6:00am. When the sun is directly above your head that means its noon. When you look to the west and the sun is on the horizon that means its approximately 6:00pm.
Why do we get more sunlight in the summer than in the winter?

You might not have noticed this, but the Earth tilts over slightly. If you have a globe at home or in school, you can see that the line between north and south poles, that goes through the center of the Earth, isn't vertical. It's actually tilting over by about 23 degrees. In our summer, the north pole is pointing towards the Sun so the Sun rises and sets roughly from due east to due west. In winter, the Earth is on the other side of the Sun so the North Pole is pointing away from the Sun. This means the Sun rises and sets more towards the southeast and southwest. You might notice this as you look out of the window. Think back to how high in the sky the sun was during the summer. Compare this to where the sun is during the winter and you'll see it's much lower down towards the horizon. Because the sun is lower down on the horizon, there's less time for it to travel between horizons. There's less distance for it to travel so the sun rises later and sets earlier meaning there's less daylight.
What is the purpose of the Moon?

The tidal effect of the moon helps to recirculate the oceans and keep them from becoming stagnated. The result of which would be catastrophic for advanced forms of life like humans.
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Why do the leaves change color?

During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange to red pigments as well. Most of the year these colors are masked by great amounts of green coloring. But in the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange to red colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor. The best time to enjoy the autumn color would be on a clear, dry, and cool day.
What is Climate Change?

Climate change represents a change in long-term weather patterns. They can become warmer or colder. Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or decrease.
What is Global Warming?

Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities. (Graphic Credit: World Almanac Education Group)
Global Warming
Is the Earth getting warmer?

Yes! The Earth has warmed by about 1F over the past 100 years. But why? Well, scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth could be getting warmer on its own, but many of the world's leading climate scientists think that things people do are helping to make the Earth warmer.
Click Here to learn more about Global Warming. What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-climate.htm
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The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere like water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earths average temperature would be about 60F colder and would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. (Graphic Credit: EPA)
Global Warming may be a big problem, but can you make a difference?
Yes! There are several little things you can do to make a difference. Try carpooling. This will help reduce the amount of fossil fuels going into the atmosphere. Whenever you use electricity, you help put greenhouse gases into the air. Turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them. Also, planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. Finally, don't forget about recycling.
What is El Nio?
El Nio is a climate pattern where the water in the Pacific Ocean near the equator gets hotter than usual and affects the atmosphere and weather around the world. El Nio climate conditions occur every few years, and they are not predictable. El Nio is Spanish for The Little Boy. It refers to the Christ child and was named by Mexican fisherman, who noticed the climate pattern often formed around Christmastime.
In a normal year, the warmest water is in the far

In an El Nio year, the warmest water moves

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water is in the far warmest water moves western Pacific. This eastward across the Pacific. forms Thunderstorms disrupt the jet thunderstorms. stream changing the weather pattern. (Graphic Credit: USA TODAY)
What type of a climate pattern do we see with an El Nio?

The climate pattern can change the weather of the United States, particularly in California and the southern states. Usually, El Nio brings more rain and higher temperatures. Also, warm ocean currents come farther north and all kinds of tropical fish can be caught in the waters far north along the United States West Coast. El Nio may also bring warmer than normal winter temperatures to the eastern part of the United States.
What is La Nia?
La Nia is sort of the opposite of El Nio. During a La Nia, the water in the same area along the equator gets colder than usual. This, too, affects weather around the globe and in the U.S. According to scientists, La Nia cycles generally create a more active hurricane season in the Atlantic.
What type of climate pattern do we see with La Nia?

In the United States, La Nia is expected to bring above normal temperatures throughout most of the Southwest and southern Florida in the late summer and fall. These warmer conditions will extend across the Southeast during the winter months. Cooler than normal winter temperatures are expected in the Pacific Northwest. Cooler than normal temperatures are also expected across the Great Lakes and Northeast later in the winter into spring. In addition to temperature effects, La Nia is also expected to affect rainfall. Drier than normal conditions will persist in west Texas, New Mexico and Arizona into October. The late fall and early winter forecasts indicate continued dry conditions throughout much of the southern U.S. and into portions of the Midwest. Above normal precipitation is predicted for much of the Pacific Northwest throughout the fall and into the winter months, and in the Ohio and Tennessee River Valley in the winter.
What are the layers of the Earth's atmosphere?

The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with space. Troposphere: The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. Stratosphere: The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere. Many airplanes fly in the stratosphere, because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun. Mesosphere: The mesosphere is the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere. Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.
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Thermosphere: The thermosphere is the fourth layer of the Earth's atmosphere. It's the layer with auroras and where the space shuttle orbits. Exosphere: The exosphere is the fifth and last layer of the Earth's atmosphere. This is the layer where the atmosphere merges into space. This layer is extremely thin.
What is the tropopause?

The tropopause is the atmospheric boundary located between the troposphere and stratosphere. Going up from the surface, its the point where air ceases to cool with height and becomes almost completely dry.
What is ozone?
Ozone is a natural gas that is found in two different layers of the atmosphere. In the layer around the Earth's surface, otherwise known as the troposphere, bad ozone dirties the air and helps make smog. The troposphere extends up to the stratosphere layer, where good ozone protects life on Earth by absorbing some of the sun's UV rays. Stratospheric ozone is found most often between six to 30 miles above the Earth's surface.
What is the ozone layer?

The ozone layer forms a thin shield high up in the sky and is located in the stratosphere. It protects life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. In the 1980s, scientists began finding clues that the ozone layer was going away or being depleted. This allows more UV radiation to reach the Earth's surface. This can cause people to have a greater chance of getting too much UV radiation. Too much UV can cause bad health effects like skin cancer, eye damage, and get you sick easier.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the cutting down large numbers of trees to use the land for something instead of a forest. Cutting down trees can affect the climate. After rain falls on a forest, mist rises and new rain clouds form. When http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-climate.htm
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After rain falls on a forest, mist rises and new rain clouds form. When forests are cut down, this cycle is disrupted, and the area eventually grows drier, causing a change in the local climate. If huge areas of trees are cut down, the carbon dioxide they would have used builds up in the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect. And without trees to hold the soil and absorb water, rain washes topsoil away, a process called soil erosion.
What is erosion?
Erosion is the wearing away of the land by water, ice or wind. Soil erosion is a natural process. It becomes a problem when human activity causes it to occur much faster than under natural conditions. Wind and water are the main agents of soil erosion.
What is acid rain?

Acid rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment. Two common air pollutants acidify rain: sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. When these substances are released into the atmosphere, they can be carried over long distances by prevailing winds before returning to earth as acidic rain, snow, fog or dust. When the environment cannot neutralize the acid being deposited, damage occurs.
Climate Activities
Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan on El Nio. This lesson plan demonstrates the effects of El Nio, the trade winds, and upwelling. This is a PDF file, so you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. Water Cycle Experiment: Here is a great experiment that teaches kids
about how the water cycle works.
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about how the water cycle works.
Acid Rain Experiment: Here is a great experiment on acid rain. It lets

kids see how destructive acid rain can be to statue and buildings.
Ozone Pollution Science Fair Project: Here are some great science fair
project ideas to help kids understand ozone pollution and makes them aware of how it is formed.
Greenhouse Effect Experiment: Here is an experiment that

demonstrates how to recreate the greenhouse effect.
Global Warming Experiment: Here is an experiment investigates the effect on sea level due to the melting of floating ice due to global warming. Science Fair Project Ideas: Here is a complete list of science fair project ideas. Discover the science behind the weather that impacts us every day.
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How does the ocean affect climate and weather on land?
T h e o c e a n pla ys a fu n da m e n t a lr o le in s h a pin g t h e c lim a t e z o n e s w e s e e o n la n d. E ve n a r e a s h u n dr e ds o fm ile s a w a yfr o m a n yc o a s t lin e a r e s t illla r g e lyin flu e n c e db y t h e g lo b a lo c e a n s ys t e m .
Illustrationofmajoroceancurrentsthroughouttheglobe.Oceancurrentsactasconveyerbeltsofwarmandcoldwater,sendingheattowardthepolar regionsandhelpingtropicalareascooloff.
Theworldsoceaniscrucialtoheatingtheplanet.Whilelandareasandtheatmosphereabsorbsomesunlight,the majorityofthesunsradiationisabsorbedbytheocean.Particularlyinthetropicalwatersaroundtheequator,the oceanactsaasmassive,heatretainingsolarpanel.Earthsatmospherealsoplaysapartinthisprocess,helpingto retainheatthatwouldotherwisequicklyradiateintospaceaftersunset. Theoceandoesn'tjuststoresolarradiationitalsohelpstodistributeheataroundtheglobe.Whenwatermolecules areheated,theyexchangefreelywiththeairinaprocesscalledevaporation.Oceanwaterisconstantlyevaporating, increasingthetemperatureandhumidityofthesurroundingairtoformrainandstormsthatarethencarriedbytrade winds,oftenvastdistances.Infact,almostallrainthatfallsonlandstartsoffintheocean.Thetropicsare particularlyrainybecauseheatabsorption,andthusoceanevaporation,ishighestinthisarea. OutsideofEarthsequatorialareas,weatherpatternsaredrivenlargelybyoceancurrents.Currentsaremovements ofoceanwaterinacontinuousflow,createdlargelybysurfacewindsbutalsopartlybytemperatureandsalinity gradients,Earthsrotation,andtides(thegravitationaleffectsofthesunandmoon).Majorcurrentsystemstypically flowclockwiseinthenorthernhemisphereandcounterclockwiseinthesouthernhemisphere,incircularpatternsthat oftentracethecoastlines. Oceancurrentsactmuchlikeaconveyerbelt,transportingwarmwaterandprecipitationfromtheequatortowardthe polesandcoldwaterfromthepolesbacktothetropics.Thus,currentsregulateglobalclimate,helpingtocounteract theunevendistributionofsolarradiationreachingEarthssurface.Withoutcurrents,regionaltemperatureswouldbe moreextremesuperhotattheequatorandfrigidtowardthepolesandmuchlessofEarthslandwouldbe habitable.
F o r M o re In fo rma t i o n :
MultimediaDiscoveryMission:TheWaterCycle MultimediaDiscoveryMission:OceanCurrents
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/climate.html 1/2
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How does the ocean affect climate and weather on land?
InvestigatingtheCharlestonBump:OceanWeather
OceanExplorationFactsRSSFeed SignupfortheOceanExplorerEmailUpdateList.
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/climate.html
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NOAA's National Ocean Service: Education: Professional Development: Oceans, Weather, and Climate
NOS NOAA
EducationHOME/Teachers:PD
TheOcean'sRoleinWeatherandClimate
Theoceancoversmorethan70percentoftheEarthssurface.Theocean playsamajorroleinregulatingtheweatherandclimateoftheplanet. Thesematerialswillhelpyouunderstandthefactorsthatimpactthe Earth'sweatherandclimate,andhowchangesintemperatureorair circulationarepartofcomplex,longtermcycles.Understandingthe influenceofoceanconditionsontheEarthsclimateandmonitoring changesinoceanconditionsarekeytopredictingclimatechange.
ClassroomResources
OceanBasics
Weatherand ClimateBasics
Energyinthe Oceanand Atmosphere
Thisprofessionaldevelopmentsectionprovidesanunderstandingofthecomplexinteractionsbetweenthe ocean,weather,andclimate.Theseresourcespresentinformationonthewatercycle,includingrealtimeand animateddataofsurfaceanddeepoceancurrents.Activitiesandlessonplansexplainthecausesofocean currents,andtheinteractionofoceandensity,atmosphericwinds,andEarthsrotation.Realtimeweatherand climatedatashowhowmeteorologistsrecordandforecasttheweather.Satelliteandradarimageryprovidea visualunderstandingofconvectionintheocean,theatmosphereandtheirinterrelatedness.
TeacherTutorials
Thetutorials,cooperativelydevelopedbyNOAAscientistsandNationalScienceTeachersAssociation(NSTA) pedagogicexperts,aredesignedtohelpteachersunderstandocean,climateandweatherconnectionsbasedon thescienceliteracygoalsintheNationalStandards.Eachtutorialfocusesonakeycontentidea,contains interactivesimulationsandembeddedquestions.
GlobalClimatePatterns http://learningcenter.nsta.org/ product_detail.aspx? id=10.2505/7/SCBOCW.1.1

Clickhereforsystem requirementsandhowto accessthistutorial 388Kb
Thistutorialexploresglobalweatherandclimatepatterns,focusingon whydifferentconditionsexistinspecificareas.TheEarthsweatherpatterns,whichconsistofdifferent conditionsoftemperature,precipitation,humidity,wind,airpressure,etc.,resultinvariousclimatezones acrosstheglobe.Weatherandclimatearetheresultofthetransferofenergyfromthesunatandnearthe surfaceoftheEarth.Solarradiationheatslandmasses,theocean,andairdifferently,resultinginthe constanttransferofenergyacrosstheglobe.Transferofthermalenergyattheboundariesbetweenthe atmosphere,landmasses,andtheoceanareinfluencedbydynamicprocessessuchascloudcover,and relativelystaticconditionssuchasthepositionofmountainrangesandtheocean.Thistransferofthermal energyresultsinlayersofdifferenttemperaturesanddensitiesinboththeoceanandatmosphere.Theaction ofgravitationalforceonregionsofdifferentdensitycausestheselayerstoriseorfall,formingconvection currents(cells).Thiscirculation,influencedbytherotationoftheEarth,produceswindsandoceancurrents.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html 1/4
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LearningOutcomes: Explainwhythetemperatureoftheoceandoesnotgenerallyfluctuateasdramaticallyasthe temperatureoftheland. Describetherelationshipbetweendensityofliquidsandgasesandtheirtemperatures. Describetheevolutionofatypicalreefsystem. Explainhowadifferenceindensityofdifferentlayers/portionsofafluidwillcauseinternalcurrents (risingandfallingofthefluid). Explainthecauseofpredictablewindpatternsalongthecoastalregionsoflargelandmasses. DescribehowtheCorioliseffectdeterminesthedirectionofthemovementofairandwatercurrents. Listthemajorvariablesthataffectthetransferofenergythroughtheatmosphere. Provideanexampleshowinghowthetransferofenergyaffectsweatherandclimate. Explainhowconvectionrelatestoweather,includingitsroleinthedevelopmentofcirculationpatterns.
GlobalPrecipitationandEnergy http://learningcenter.nsta.org/ product_detail.aspx? id=10.2505/7/SCBOCW.1.2

ThistutorialexploresthedistributionofwaterandenergyonEarth.The cyclingofwaterinandoutoftheatmosphereandoceanaffectstheEarthsclimatesbyinfluencingpatternsof precipitationandbytransferringenergybetweentheoceanandtheatmosphere.Aswatermovesthroughthe watercycle,itevaporatesfromtheEarthssurface,risesandcools,condensesintorain,snow,orice,and fallsbacktothesurface.Thewaterfallingonlandcollectsinriversandlakes,soil,andporouslayersofrock, andmuchofiteventuallyflowsbackintotheocean.ThewatercycleconnectstheoceantoalloftheEarths waterreservoirsbyevaporationandprecipitation.Theoceanlosesthermalenergyduetotheevaporationof water.Thisenergytransferdrivesatmosphericcirculationaswatermovestotheatmosphereasvaporand eventuallycondenses,releasingthermalenergytothesurroundingair. LearningOutcomes: Outlinethebasicstepsinthewatercycleintermsofdensity,energyofthewater,andtherelative moleculararrangementandmotionineachphase. Describehowenergyistransferredtotheatmospherebyheatingfromtheoceanandbythe evaporationofwateranditssubsequentcondensation. Identifythesunastheenergysourcethatdrivesatmosphericcirculationandthemovementofmasses ofairandwaterfromoneplaceonEarthtoanother(throughconvection). Listsourcesforthewatercycleandidentifythelargestsource. Explaintherelationshipbetweenwater,temperature,theamountofwaterevaporatedintothe atmosphere(andsubsequentlycondensed),andtheenergyoftheatmosphereatornearthelocationof evaporation.
GlobalCirculationPatterns http://learningcenter.nsta.org/ product_detail.aspx? id=10.2505/7/SCBOCW.1.3

Thistutorialexploresoceancirculationpatternsandtheeffectthatthe oceanhasonclimate.Waterintheoceanholdsalotofthermalenergy(morethananequalamountofland). ThroughouttheoceanthereisaglobalcirculationsystemthattransfersthisthermalenergyacrosstheEarth. Theshapeoftheoceanbasinsandadjacentlandmassesinfluencethepathofcirculation.Asoceancurrents transferthermalenergytovariouslocations,thetemperatureoftheatmosphereabovetheoceanisaffected. Forexample,thecondensationofwaterthathasbeenevaporatedfromwarmseasprovidestheenergyfor hurricanesandcyclones.Whenthepatternofthermalenergyreleasedintotheatmospherechanges,global weatherpatternsareaffected.AnexampleofalargescaleimpactsuchasthisistheElNioSouthern Oscillation,whichchangesthepatternofthermalenergyreleasedintotheatmosphereinthePacific. LearningOutcomes:
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html 2/4
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Explainhowtheoceanmightinfluenceandaffectlocalweatherandclimate,givenaspecificlocation (ontheplanetneartheocean)andthelocaloceancurrents. Describethecauseofhurricanesandexplainwhytheyusuallyoccurwithinspecificregionsduring certaintimesoftheyear. Explainhowchangesinoceantemperatures(overaperiodofmonths)affectfactorsthatinfluence weatherpatterns. Listthemajorvariablesthataffectthetransferofenergythroughtheocean.
ChangingClimate http://learningcenter.nsta.org/ product_detail.aspx? id=10.2505/7/SCBOCW.1.4

ThistutorialexploreshowEarthsclimatehaschangedinthepastand howitmaychangeinthefuture.ClimatechangemayoccurasaresultofchangesintheEarth'ssurface, atmosphere,andocean.Suchchangesmaybeabrupt(suchasgasanddustfromvolcaniceruptionsor asteroidimpacts)ormayoccuroververylongtimes(suchaschangesinlandscapeorincreasesincarbon dioxidelevelsintheatmosphere).Evenrelativelysmallchangesinatmosphericoroceancontentand/or temperaturecanhavewidespreadeffectsonclimateifthechangelastslongenough.Sincetheindustrial revolution,theconcentrationofgreenhousegasesintheatmospherehasincreasedatanunprecedentedrate. Thoughclimatechangeandchangesinthecompositionoftheoceanandatmospherearenatural,present modificationsfarexceednaturalrates. LearningOutcomes: Explaintherolethatphenomenasuchasvolcaniceruptionsorasteroidshaveinchangingclimate. Describethetypeofatmosphericconditionsandweatherrelateddatathatcanbeobtainedfromice coreanddeepseasedimentrecords. Describehowasmallchangeinthecontentoftheoceanandatmosphere(suchasariseincarbon dioxidelevels)canhavesignificantimpactsonglobalclimate. Describehowhumanactivityaffectsclimate.
WebSeminarArchives
IncollaborationwiththeNSTA,NOAAhaspresentedaseriesof90minute,professionaldevelopment experiences.ThroughthefollowinglinkyoucanviewWebseminararchives,downloadPowerPoint presentations,andaccessadditionalresources. TheOcean'sRoleinWeatherandClimate http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall06/ oceans/webseminar.aspx ThislinkprovidesaccesstotwoWebseminararchivesthatfocusontheconnectionsamongair,sea,andland theprocessesbywhichenergyisstored,releasedandtransferredamongthemandhowourabilityto understandandmonitoroceanconditionsiskeytopredictingclimatechange.Thefirstseminarpresentsthe influenceoftheAtlanticOceanonclimate,fromhurricanestoAfricandrought.Thesecondseminarexplainshow changesinclimateaffecttheArcticseaice.
NOAASites NationalOceanicand AtmosphericAdministration NationalEnvironmental Satellite,Data& InformationService NationalMarineFisheries Service
NOSProgramOffices CenterforOperational OceanographicProducts andServices NationalCentersforCoastal OceanScience NOAACoastalServices Center
NOSHeadquarters ForNOSEmployees EqualEmployment OpportunityandDiversity Programs IntegratedOcean ObservingSystemProgram ManagementandBudget
SiteLinks SiteMap Acknowledgments InformationQuality FreedomofInformationAct PrivacyPolicy
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html
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NationalWeatherService NOAAResearch NOAALibrary NOAAWatch NOAACareers NOAAStaffDirectory
NationalGeodeticSurvey OfficeofCoastSurvey OfficeofNationalMarine Sanctuaries OfficeofOceanandCoastal ResourceManagement OfficeofResponseand Restoration Office
RevisedJuly18,2012|Questions,Comments?ContactUs|ReportError|Disclaimer|AbouttheSite|UserSurvey WebSiteOwner:NationalOceanService|NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration|DepartmentofCommerce|USA.gov http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/pd/oceans_weather_climate/welcome.html
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UCSB Science Line sqtest
How does the oceans current affect the climate of the east coast? Answer 1: The east coast of the United States is affected mainly by the Gulf Stream current, which brings warm water from the tropics into higher latitudes. The warm current flows north along the coast towards Maine, before veering northeast out toward England. Because warmer water evaporates faster, putting more moisture into the air, the current serves to increase the humidity of the air along the coast. This moisture occasionally gets sucked into storm systems and rained (or snowed) out over the mid- Atlantic states and New England. Similarly, because water temperature changes much more slowly than air temperature, when a cold air mass moves toward the coast from from Canada, the coastal areas will stay much warmer than farther inland. Thus, the warm ocean current tends to moderate the temperatures along the coast.
Answer 2: Oceans circulate in a clockwise fashion in the northern hemisphere, which means that the current flows north along the east coast of North America, then south along the west coast of Europe, before crossing back west along the equator. This means that the water on the east coast of the U.S. has recently been in places like the Caribbean and Central America - in other words, tropical, and warm. This has a warming effect on the east coast of the U.S., which is much warmer than Europe at the same latitude. It also means that the east coast is subject to tropical-type weather - i.e. they get hurricanes, when Europe does not.
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UCSB Science Line sqtest
Click Here to return to the search form.
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Factors That Affect Climate

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El N IO AND L A N IA; O CEAN C URRENTS .

NationalClimateDataCenter.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html> .

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The Ocean and Climate

The Ocean and Climate

The Ocean and Climate

The Ocean and Climate

25yearaverageofheatingoftheatmosphere.Noticethehighcorrelationwithrainrateshownabove.Rainandabsorptionof infraredradiationheatstheatmosphere,mostlyinthetropics.Thisheatingdrivestheatmosphericcirculation. FromJapanMeteorologicalAgency,Japanese25yearReanalysis(JRA25)Atlas.

The Ocean and Climate

The Ocean and Climate

The Ocean and Climate

3. Earthwithanatmosphereandocean Earthhasanatmosphereandocean,andtheaveragesurfacetemperatureisacomfortable15C(59F).Waterevaporatesfromthe oceanandland,coolingthesurface.Windscarrythewatervaportootherlatitudes,andsometimeshighupintotheair,whereheatis releasedwhenthevaporcondensestowater.

The Ocean and Climate