1. Bodies of Water Influence climate and species distribution
Water Systems Chapter 3
Bodies of Water Influence climate and species distribution

2. Section 3.1 Oceans and Climate page 82
Weather
Climate Vs
The short term conditions in the atmosphere at a specific place and time
Described in terms of:
Temperature
Moisture
Winds speed and direction
Air pressure
Weather conditions for a particular region averaged over a l o n g period of time (approximately 30 years)

3. Specific Heat Capacity - The amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of an object or liquid
Water has a HIGH specific heat capacity
It takes a LARGE amount of heat to increase the temperature a small amount.
It then takes a L O N G time to cool down again

4. HUGE

5. Some Specific Heat Capacities compared to Water

6. Oceans can store LARGE amounts of HEAT and currents can transport that HEAT to other parts of the world. Ocean temperatures can noticeably affect the CLIMATES of costal areas.
Ex: The Gulf Stream and Labrador Current greatly determine the climate of NL

7. Convection - The process of heat transfer from one place to another by the movement of warm fluids from place to place
As the ocean is WARMED, the air over it WARMS
The air is then less dense and rises
As it rises in the atmosphere, it COOLS and becomes dense again
It sinks over the ocean and is WARMED again

8. Convection creates weather patterns all over the earth!

9. Due to the Oceans HIGH Heat Capacity:
Oceans stay warmer through the fall and into winter than land masses.
Oceans remain cooler through spring and into summer.
This keeps the climate of coastal areas from being extremely HOT in the summer and extremely COLD in the winter.
This is called a MODERATE CLIMATE (NL)

10. Pacific Ocean Patterns:
The Pacific Ocean near the EQUATOR receives more sunlight than any other place on Earth!

11. The warmer waters are carried WEST by the Pacific Trade Winds and this allows the deeper, cooler nutrient rich waters to RISE UP!

12. In the Spring the Trade winds slow down and cool water DOES NOT rise up! The water temperature INCREASES Within a few weeks the Trade Winds increase again.

13. El Nino
Every 3-7 years the trade winds DO NOT increase again and the waters keep rising in Temperature, leading to abnormal weather patterns.

14. In different places in the world, El Nino causes changing rainfall patterns, drought, fires, severe storms and flooding

15. Marine life is negatively affected.

16. Na Nina
In this case the trade winds DO NOT slow down and cooler water keeps rising.
The cool ocean temperatures bring the reverse conditions of El Nino.
Marine Life Flourishes!

17. El Nino and La Nina Summary
Trade Winds
Decrease
Increase
Temperature
Weather
Increased Extremes (Floods, Droughts)
Decreased Extremes
Marine Productivity

18. Check Your Understanding
Questions page 89 # 1-10

19. Human Impact on Water Systems
Section page 100

20. 1. Construction – for transportation or resource gathering purposes
PROS - helps transportation
- CONS disrupts marine life
Ex: PEI Confederation Bridge

21. 2. Offshore Oil Industry PROS - access to oil underneath the sea floor
- CONS – Pollutes: ~ form oil rigs ~ drainage from cities and farms ~ untreated waste disposal from factories Seismic testing (used to locate oil deposits with shock waves which damage the marine life)

22. 3. Factory Trawlers – large ships that have freezers and extra storage
PROS – help to get large amounts of fish since the ship can stay at sea longer. Uses sonar to locate fish
CONS – overfishing

23. 4. Aquaculture – the growing and harvesting of marine species in a controlled marine area
PROS – humans can harvest farmed fish and leave the wild marine life in the ocean
- CONS – sometimes these farmed fish can escape, introducing a foreign fish or disease into an area