Differential Heating – Specific Heat Land heats up __________. Land has ________ specific heat. Ocean heats up ______________. Water has _________ specific heat. Quickly Slowly Low high

How does differential heating affect coastal vs. inland climates? Coastal region are near the ocean  the ocean absorbs a lot of heat without warming up quickly  coastal climates are mild Inland regions are far from the ocean  the land absorbs a little bit of heat and warms up quickly  inland climates are more extreme

The Global Conveyor Belt

The Global Conveyor Belt The global conveyor belt is a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by thermohaline currents (temperature and salinity).

Upwelling Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. Winds blow across the ocean and pushes water away. Water rises up from beneath to replace the water pushed away.

Upwelling Water that rises up from an upwelling is normally colder and richer in nutrients than the water pushed away. These nutrients “fertilize” surface water, meaning the organisms have lots to eat. Fishing is normally good in upwelling water.

What are El Niño and La Niña? El Niño and La Niña are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninoni na.html

What are El Niño and La Niña? Trade winds are the prevailing easterly (east to west) winds that circle the Earth near the equator. This is what normally occurs. El Niño and La Niña affect these trade winds and cause climate shifts.

Normal Trade Wind Conditions Wind moves East to West Creates upwelling on western coast of South America (Lima, Peru) Warm water closer to Australia

What are El Niño and La Niña? Both El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Both share fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere near the Equatorial (Equator) Pacific.

What are El Niño and La Niña? El Niño and La Niña typically last 9 to 12 months, but have occurs for several years. They usually occur every 2 to 7 years. El Niño normally occurs more frequently than La Niña events.

El Niño Means The Little Boy or Christ Child in Spanish. Name based on time of year when El Niño normally occurs (winter).

El Niño Linked to warming in sea surface temperature across central and east-central Equatorial Pacific. Trade winds (normally move east to west) weaken which moves warm water closer to the South American coast. This warmer water reduces upwelling off the western coast of South America.

Effect of El Niño – United States Warmer than average temperature over western and northern United States. Wetter-than-average conditions over U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida. Drier-than-average conditions can occur in Ohio Valley and Pacific Northwest.