The Ocean-Climate Relationship

Why are the oceans important? The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface. The ocean carries out about 50% of global primary production (bottom of food chain).

Oceans Regulate the Climate The ocean plays a fundamental role in shaping the climate zones we see on land. Climate: the general weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.

The Oceans Store Heat The majority of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the ocean. The ocean acts as a massive, storage reservoir of heat (especially in the tropical waters around the equator). The ocean then helps distribute this heat around the world. -Evaporation -Ocean currents

Evaporation Most evaporation occurs over the ocean. This constant evaporation increases the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air to form rain and storms, which are then carried by global winds long distances away.

Precipitation Almost all rain that falls on land starts in the ocean. The tropics are very rainy because heat absorption (and evaporation) is highest in this area.

Surface Currents Weather patterns are also largely driven by ocean currents. Surface Currents: continuous movements of ocean water that are caused by surface winds, temperature and salinity differences, the Earth’s rotation, and tides.

How do surface currents regulate the climate? Ocean currents act like a giant conveyor belt: Transports warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles. Transports cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Regulates the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface

How do surface currents regulate the climate? Without currents, regional temperatures would be more extreme—super hot at the equator and frigid at the poles—and much less land would be habitable (livable).

The Gulf Stream An intense, warm ocean current that moves north from the coast of Florida to Cape Hatteras (NC), and then flows northeast across the Atlantic Ocean. It is the main conveyor of heat from south to north on the USA east coast.

The Gulf Stream Carries almost 4 billion cubic feet of warm water per second, an amount greater than that carried by all of the world’s rivers combined!! The east coast of the US and the west coast of Europe are much warmer as a result of this!

Cape Hatteras, NC Here, the warm Gulf Stream collides with the colder Labrador Current, resulting in an upwelling of nutrient-rich water (good fishing!). How would the climates of coastal cities south of Cape Hatteras, NC be affected by the Gulf Stream? Answer: They would be warmer as a result of the warm water being carried and there would be more precipitation.