Here are four factors that control temperature at any given location on earth: 1) latitude, 2) elevation, 3) ratio of land and water, and 4) ocean currents.
The heat equator, the region of highest mean annual temperature, is about 10 degrees north latitude. Thus, the Northern Hemisphere is warmer than the Southern Hemisphere. This is a result of the Antarctic having a higher albedo than the Arctic. The Northern Hemisphere has a greater fraction of land at tropical latitudes, and ocean currents transport more warm water to the Northern Hemisphere. There is an exchange of heat and moisture between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. Because of the difference in heat capacity between water and air, even a small change in surface ocean temperatures could modify atmospheric circulation, which could have far reaching effects on global weather patterns.
Most interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere are not understood. It is known, however, that ocean currents are caused by the wind. Winds blow over the ocean, causing surface water to drift along with them. Moving water piles up, creating pressure gradients within the water. These pressure gradients produce currents that transfer heat from the equator to the poles. As surface water drifts away with the wind, cold nutrient rich water from below rises in a process called upwelling. This also is an example of heat transfer.
The oceans play a major role in the climate system, yet the exact effect they will have on rising levels of carbon dioxide and global warming is uncertain. The oceans are huge storehouses of carbon dioxide. Microscopic plant (phytoplankton) extract carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Warmer ocean temperatures could produce increased numbers of these plants, which could reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a negative feedback mechanism.
On the other hand, warmer ocean temperatures could increase the carbon dioxide in the air due to the fact that warmer water cannot dissolve as much carbon dioxide as colder water. This is a positive feedback mechanism.
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Name Greg G ( 25/50)
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Ocean Temperature's effect on Climate
Here are four factors that control temperature at any given location on earth: 1) latitude, 2) elevation, 3) ratio of land and water, and 4) ocean currents.
The heat equator, the region of highest mean annual temperature, is about 10 degrees north latitude. Thus, the Northern Hemisphere is warmer than the Southern Hemisphere. This is a result of the Antarctic having a higher albedo than the Arctic. The Northern Hemisphere has a greater fraction of land at tropical latitudes, and ocean currents transport more warm water to the Northern Hemisphere. There is an exchange of heat and moisture between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. Because of the difference in heat capacity between water and air, even a small change in surface ocean temperatures could modify atmospheric circulation, which could have far reaching effects on global weather patterns.
Most interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere are not understood. It is known, however, that ocean currents are caused by the wind. Winds blow over the ocean, causing surface water to drift along with them. Moving water piles up, creating pressure gradients within the water. These pressure gradients produce currents that transfer heat from the equator to the poles. As surface water drifts away with the wind, cold nutrient rich water from below rises in a process called upwelling. This also is an example of heat transfer.
The oceans play a major role in the climate system, yet the exact effect they will have on rising levels of carbon dioxide and global warming is uncertain. The oceans are huge storehouses of carbon dioxide. Microscopic plant (phytoplankton) extract carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Warmer ocean temperatures could produce increased numbers of these plants, which could reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a negative feedback mechanism.
On the other hand, warmer ocean temperatures could increase the carbon dioxide in the air due to the fact that warmer water cannot dissolve as much carbon dioxide as colder water. This is a positive feedback mechanism.
How Ocean Temperature can Effect Climate
Energy from the sun evaporates large quantities of water from the oceans. This water vapor is then transported by winds to other regions where it condenses into clouds and precipitation.
Precipitation runoff from land surfaces eventually returns to the oceans. This cycle is called the hydrologic cycle. Of the total water vapor content of the atmosphere, 85 percent evaporated from the oceans.
Water has a high capacity for storing energy. It requires a relatively large amount of heat energy to bring about a small temperature change in water. Thus water has a high specific heat. The same can be said about the reverse - water cools slowly as well. The percentage of radiation reflected from a surface is called the albedo. Water surfaces reflect only a small amount of solar energy. An object that reflects very little sunlight absorbs a great deal. Water has a low albedo but high absorption. Because of these unique properties and because oceans cover about 70 percent of the earth, water has a strong modifying effect on weather and climate.
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