answersLogoWhite

0

The oceans have a moderating effect on the Earth's climate, helping prevent extremes of air temperature. This is because water takes much longer than air to heat up and cool down. Since about two thirds of the planet's surface is ocean, this has a profound effect on climate. Outside the equatorial regions, this vast body of water tends to store heat during the summer months, and slowly release it during the winter. This is why coastal regions tend to have milder climates than areas that are far inland.

Specific Heat

Specific heat is a measure of how much heat it takes to raise the temperature of a given quantity of a substance by a given amount. This value is more than four times higher for water than for dry air or land. Land heats up quickly, and this heat is easily transferred to the air.

Air over land, however, also cools down relatively quickly. In contrast, much more heat is required to bring about a similar rise in ocean temperature, and so the seas take much longer to heat up. Similarly, they take much longer to cool down. For this reason, in areas that experience seasons, the ocean tends to lag behind the land in terms of temperature.

By Hisham Baig Effects on Climate

This difference in specific heat affects temperature ranges on both seasonal and daily timescales. Days are cooler, and nights warmer, over the oceans than on land. This has an effect on coastal areas, keeping temperatures down during the day, and preventing them from dropping very low at night.

On a micro scale, the effects of ocean temperature can easily be seen at the beach. Usually, air at a beach is a few degrees cooler than the air just a few miles inland during the day. Likewise, during the night, the air at the coast may not cool down quite as much as at inland locations. This is why coastal areas like San Diego have one forecast for the beach, and another for inland areas. The effect can also be seen in wind direction: typically, during the day wind will blow from the sea toward the land, where heat causes the air to rise, and vice-versa at night.

On a longer timescale, in summer, ocean temperature does not reach its maximum until some time after the maximum day length. Similarly, the minimum ocean temperature occurs some time after the shortest day. This influences the climate over land, creating a similar time lag.

As oceans heat up, they release more water vapor into the air, increasing its humidity. This also affects climate, as humid air takes longer to heat up, and retains heat for longer than dry air. Again, this has a moderating influence. Without the oceans, temperatures would fluctuate far more dramatically, probably making conditions impossible for most life forms.

The extent to which the ocean influences climates inland depends on topography. Moist air from a warm ocean can help moderate the climate for a considerable distance, but if it is forced to rise by a mountain range, much of the moisture will condense, forming cloud and producing rain. On the other side of the range, the air will have lost most of its moisture, and the climate will tend to be more extreme.

Ocean Currents

The equatorial regions receive more heat from the Sun than the higher latitudes, and this difference in the degree of warming of the oceans leads to currents that circulate heat around the globe. These currents have a huge impact on the climates of some parts of the world. Perhaps the best-known ocean current is the Gulf Stream, which is sometimes known as the North Atlantic Drift. This brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico northward to northwest Europe, where its effect can be seen by contrasting the winters experienced in this region with those in Eastern Europe. For example, Glasgow in Scotland typically experiences mild, wet winters, while Moscow - at roughly the same latitude - has freezing conditions.

While this may be the most commonly cited example, ocean currents exist all over the world. Some are cold water currents, carrying cooler water from the arctic areas down toward the tropics. These reduce evaporation and humidity, leading to drier conditions with greater temperature variations than is usual for coastal regions. ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) is a periodic warming of part of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America that has a huge effect on climate all over the planet.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

Why do oceans have great impact on the weather over the continents?

Oceans store a lot of heat and moisture, which can affect the temperature and precipitation patterns on nearby continents when air masses move over them. The temperature difference between the ocean and land can create wind patterns that influence weather systems. Additionally, oceans can also generate large-scale weather phenomena like tropical cyclones that can impact nearby continents.


The Primary Cause of Most weather and climate is difference in?

The primary cause of most weather and climate is differences in temperature and air pressure. These differences drive the movement of air masses and the formation of weather systems such as storms, fronts, and winds. The uneven heating of Earth's surface by the sun is the main driver of these temperature and pressure variations.


The difference between the highest and lowest temperature for any given day is called the daily of temperature?

The difference between the highest and lowest temperature for any given day is called the daily temperature range. This range helps us understand the variation in temperatures experienced throughout a single day, which can be important for various applications such as agriculture, weather monitoring, and energy management.


What can happen if there are a large temperature difference between two nearby air masses?

A large temperature difference between air masses can create a strong pressure gradient, leading to high winds and atmospheric disturbances. This can cause rapidly changing weather conditions, such as thunderstorms, and potentially severe weather events like tornadoes or intense rainfall.


What are weather systems?

Weather systems are large-scale patterns in the atmosphere that are responsible for creating weather conditions. Examples of weather systems include high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, fronts, and jet streams. These systems move air masses and moisture around the Earth, influencing temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.

Related Questions

What is the difference in temperature between a warm tube misfire and a warm tube misfire in hot weather?

The difference in temperature between a warm tube misfire and a warm tube misfire in hot weather is the temperature that resulted in the hot weather .


How does the sun change the weather?

The sun supplies the energy that drives the Earth's weather systems by heating the atmosphere and creating temperature differences. This temperature difference leads to air movement and circulation, which in turn drives weather patterns such as winds, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure systems.


What is the difference between climate an temperature?

temperature is term used to know how much hot or cold it is......climate is like weather that is hot, cold ..


What is the difference between landforms and climates?

Landforms are natural wonders such as mountains, deltas, and plateaus climate is the normal weather and temperature of a place


The difference between the highest and the lowest temperatures recorded for a place during the day is called?

The difference between the highest and lowest temperatures recorded for a place during the day is called the temperature range. It indicates the variability of temperature throughout the day and can be influenced by factors such as geographical location, season, and weather conditions. Understanding the temperature range is important for meteorology, agriculture, and daily weather forecasting.


Why do oceans have great impact on the weather over the continents?

Oceans store a lot of heat and moisture, which can affect the temperature and precipitation patterns on nearby continents when air masses move over them. The temperature difference between the ocean and land can create wind patterns that influence weather systems. Additionally, oceans can also generate large-scale weather phenomena like tropical cyclones that can impact nearby continents.


The Primary Cause of Most weather and climate is difference in?

The primary cause of most weather and climate is differences in temperature and air pressure. These differences drive the movement of air masses and the formation of weather systems such as storms, fronts, and winds. The uneven heating of Earth's surface by the sun is the main driver of these temperature and pressure variations.


What is the difference between weather seasons and climate?

they have the difference or hot or cold weather and the storms they can be bad or not so bad


Does a jet stream create a boundary between a cold air mass and a warm air mass?

Yes, a jet stream creates a boundary between cold and warm air masses. It acts as a fast-flowing river of air in the upper atmosphere, where the temperature difference between the air masses can be significant. This boundary can lead to the development of weather systems, such as storms, as the contrasting air masses interact. The position and strength of the jet stream influence weather patterns, including temperature changes and precipitation.


The difference between the highest and lowest temperature for any given day is called the daily of temperature?

The difference between the highest and lowest temperature for any given day is called the daily temperature range. This range helps us understand the variation in temperatures experienced throughout a single day, which can be important for various applications such as agriculture, weather monitoring, and energy management.


What can happen if there are a large temperature difference between two nearby air masses?

A large temperature difference between air masses can create a strong pressure gradient, leading to high winds and atmospheric disturbances. This can cause rapidly changing weather conditions, such as thunderstorms, and potentially severe weather events like tornadoes or intense rainfall.


What are weather systems?

Weather systems are large-scale patterns in the atmosphere that are responsible for creating weather conditions. Examples of weather systems include high-pressure systems, low-pressure systems, fronts, and jet streams. These systems move air masses and moisture around the Earth, influencing temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns.