Water and Climate Science 10

Did You Know? Every drop of seawater contains approximately 1 billion gold atoms. The average person can live 11 days without water. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen.

Did You Know? While global warming will cause desertification in many parts of the world, it may also cause much of Europe to become so cold it would be uninhabitable. Northern Europe is currently warmed by the North Atlantic Drift - the continuation of the Gulf Stream, which wraps around Ireland and Scandinavia.

Did You Know? This current is fed by heavy, high-salinity water sinking in the arctic, because of the freezing of sea water to form ice in the winter (when salt water freezes, the salt ions are forced out, which is why sea ice melts into fresh water!). If more sea ice melts due to higher average temperatures, the salinity of the surface water will be raised to the point where it will no longer sink, and thus no longer feed the Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift. If this occurs, Europe will no longer be indirectly warmed by the heat of the Caribbean sun, and it will be chilled to the point where another ice age is possible in the northern parts

Water’s Wacky Properties High Specific Heat Capacity High Heats of Fusion and Vaporization High boiling and melting points Adhesive and cohesive properties Ice is less dense than water High surface tension

Why? Water’s unique structure Polarity Hydrogen bonds

Water’s Bonds

The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle A means of transferring energy around the biosphere As water’s bonds break and reform, energy is absorbed /released to the surrounding air, influencing the climate

Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents Warm ocean currents will warm the air around them (eg. Britain) Cool ocean currents will cool the air around them (eg. Nova Scotia)

Ocean Currents

El Nino

El Nino Occurs when ocean currents off the coast of South America warm Causes trade winds to weaken Results in world-wide climate differences

La Nina

La Nina Occurs when ocean currents off the coast of South America cool Causes trade winds to strengthen Results in world-wide climate differences

Global Wind Patterns

Global Wind Patterns

Global Wind Patterns At the equator, warm air rises (less dense) Cooler air must move in to fill this gap. This movement of cooler air towards the equator cause northeast and southeast trade winds.

Global Wind Patterns In the temperate zone, cool dry air descends creating the westerlies. At the poles, sinking cool air is pushed east causing easterlies.

Coriolis Effect

Coriolis Effect

Coriolis Effect

Sea Breeze

Land Breeze

Time to Get to Work! Read pages 372-374 Complete questions # 1, 3, 7 (pg 374) Read pages 388-396 Complete questions # 1-4 (pg 396)