Lesson 5.2: Climate *Refer to Chapters 9 & 10 in your Textbook

Learning Goals: I can differentiate between temperature and heat. I can describe the importance of heat capacity and thermal inertia in the ocean. I can explain how global warming and climate change impact our oceans.

Temperature VS Heat Temperature: a measurement of thermal energy Heat: transfer of thermal energy between objects Objects must have a difference in temp Flows from hot to cold Heat Temp!

Temperature VS Heat Conduction: transfer of energy through direct contact Ex. Contact between atmosphere and ocean Convection: transfer of energy through flowing particles Ex. Circulation in the mantle/currents Radiation: transfer of energy through waves Ex. Sun rays heating up ocean

Temperature VS Heat

Heat Capacity Heat Capacity: the amount of energy required to raise the temp of a substance by 1oC It takes a large amount of energy to raise the temp of a large body of water!

Thermal Inertia Water’s high heat capacity provides the ocean with thermal inertia: which is the ability to resist temperature changes. The land changes temp much more than the ocean!

Solar Heating: Incoming Solar Energy: 50% absorbed by the ocean and land 25% reflected by the atmosphere 20% absorbed by the atmosphere 5% reflected by the ocean and land

Solar Heating: Due to the Earth’s tilt 23.5o we have differential heating (different heat at different parts of the Earth), which causes our seasons.

Ozone Ozone: a gas layer composed of 3 oxygen atoms. Ozone acts as a sunscreen by absorbing UV rays from the sun. Ozone “hole” over Antarctica where it has been severely depleted.

Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Effect occurs when the atmosphere absorbs solar energy and radiates the heat back to Earth’s surface Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would be almost 950F/ 350C colder!

Global Warming A Greenhouse gas is a gas such as carbon dioxide, methane, or CFC, that prevents heat from radiating back into space. Global Warming is the increase in Earth’s average temperature caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases.

Global Warming

Climate Climate is a global weather pattern over a long period of time Climate is determined by many factors: Average temp Precipication Wind Latitude Altitude Air masses Topographic features (mountains, rivers)

Climate

ENSO “Seesaw” El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a shift in the tradewinds bringing warm water from the west Pacific to the east. High pressure & drought in west Low pressure & flooding in east No upwelling in east = no nutrients = no fish 

ENSO “Seesaw”

Climate Effect of Marine Life Humpback whales migration Polar bears and declining sea ice Decline in coral reefs