Ocean and Climate
The ocean and its massive flow of water or currents are vital to how the heat energy moves between the Earth’s bodies of water, landforms and atmosphere. The ocean is a crucial factor in the storage and transfer of heat energy across the earth. The movement of heat through the ocean currents affects the regulation of weather conditions and temperature extremes. The global climate is directly impacted by the ocean’s current. “The ocean covers more than 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and holds 97 percent of its water” (National Geographic). Ocean currents are located on the surface of the ocean and deep in the water below. The currents can move horizontally and vertically. The ocean has an interconnected current or circulation system powered by wind, tides, the Earth’s rotation and the sun. The ocean absorbs heat when the air is warm and releases heat when the air is cool. The ocean’s role is critical in determining the climate because it absorbs, stores, and transports heat from the sun.
The ocean can warm or cool the air in a different ways, when the air is at a lower temperature than seawater, the ocean transfers heat to the lower atmosphere forming a low pressure air mass over that part of the ocean. Cool or cold waters lead to the formation of a high pressure air mass. This affects jet streams, bands of fast-moving high altitude air currents. These streams supply energy to developing storms at lower altitudes. The ocean alters the direction of storms and some storms even reverse direction as result of ocean-influenced air pressure changes.
The current in the ocean distributes the effects of weather worldwide. Some currents carry warm water from the tropical and subtropical regions toward the poles, whil...
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... are many factors that contribute to the weather and climate but it is the ocean along with the sun that is responsible for creating such drastic weather changes. The hydrologic cycle is the never ending circulation that takes water from the ocean to atmosphere and back to the ocean. The ocean is responsible for making it rain, snow, hail or sleet by creating clouds from evaporation caused by the heat of the sun.
Works Cited
Herring, David. “Ocean and Climate Fact Sheet.” Earth Observatory. NASA. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OceanClimate/.php. How Stuff Works. “How the Ocean Affects Climate.” Discovery Company. Web.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/how-the-ocean-affects-climate-info.htm.
Stewart, Robert. “Ocean and Climate.” Flesh-Kincaid. Web.
http://oceanmotion.org/html/background/climate.htm.
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90 percent of the effects of global warming are attributed to rising temperatures and heat. This heat tends to affect our oceans due to the ...
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Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
There are many causes and consequences of climate change discussed throughout this Encyclical. One of the most important would be the extreme weather. “In recent decades this warming has been accompanied by a constant rise in the sea level and, it would appear, by an increase of extreme weather events, even if a scientifically determined cause
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"On a recent afternoon, Scott McKenzie watched torrential rains and a murky tide swallow the street outside his dog-grooming salon. Within minutes, much of this stretch of chic South Beach was flooded ankle-deep in a fetid mix of rain and sea.
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Four NOMAD buoys across the North Atlantic registered a 13-degree drop in SST. And soon a series of extreme weather happened in front of my eyes: hurricanes, snow storms, and even cyclones that rapidly pulled cool air from the upper troposphere which made people freeze instantly. Those were the scenes I saw from The Day after Tomorrow, the film that inspired my curiosity in atmospheric sciences in my seventh grade. Although shocked by the catastrophe caused by global warming in the film, I couldn't help take an eager interest in how freshwater from melted polar ice caps brought a shift in the North Atlantic Current, and how the shifted current brought a change in the earth’s climate. Later, as I gathered more information about the climate, I became fascinated by the physical and dynamical mechanisms explaining atmospheric phenomenon. And after three years of undergraduate study of atmospheric sciences, beyond the starting point of fascination, I have taken concrete steps forward with my hard work, independence, and creativity.
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The oceans need to be protected because it is where life began and if not taken care of, life as we know it will end. When dangerous substances go into the ocean, ecosystems are suffer and become endangered along with lives of people and of marine life. Surfrider Foundation recognizes the importance of protecting and preserving the quality and biodiversity of the world's coasts because they are truly irreplaceable. There is also historical evidence of ocean pollution being present in the past, but the problem still lingers today. Heal the Bay discovered that,“Did you know there is a DDT and PCB hot spot off the coast of Palos Verdes? This superfund site (which indicates it's one of the most polluted places in the United States), is left over from a 1930's era chemical plant. Because DDT takes so long to break down in the marine environment, it persists to this day, contaminating certain species of fish. There are also highly polluted sediments in the Long Beach area, a sign of the heavy shipping in the port. Heal the Bay works on developing effective capping and removal plans to keep those toxins from spreading” (Heal the Bay). DDT is still highly concentrated in the South Bay area and still contaminating different species of fish. Even after more than 80 years DDT, a toxic insecticide, is still very concentrated and during upwellings, DDT particles come back up and continue to harm marine life. If humans are careless about what is thrown on the floor or sprayed on lawns, it can lead to disastrous affects when it comes to the condition of the ocean's ecosystems, and can endanger life itself leading to a problem that only we can mend.