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In simple terms, hurricanes are fueled by water vapor. More vapor evaporates from warm water than from cold water. If water temperatures are less than about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then there will not be enough water vapor to sustain a hurricane.

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How does upwelling affect the distribution of nutrients of the ocean?

Upwelling brings up tiny ocean organisms, minerals, and other nutrients from the deeper layers of the water. Without this motion, the surface waters of the open ocean would be very scarce in nutrients.


Can cold ocean water affect a hurricane?

They do cool the ocean somewhat, but not for the reason many people think. Hurricanes require warm waters to develop, as they derive their energy from the water. But it is not as if they take the water's warmth and turn it into energy. The water evaporates from the ocean and rises, where it eventually condenses into clouds and rain. It is in this condensation process that latent heat is released, really fueling the storm. The temperature of the ocean does not change in this process.Hurricanes cool the ocean (slightly) by literally churning the water, which allows cooler water from below to be up-welled and replace the warmer water. Since water is of course warmest at the surface (since it is heated from above and the warmest water rises anyway), any turbulent wave motion generated by storms will tend to mix up that top layer. As you might guess, the stronger the storm, the more it gets mixed. It eventually returns to its "normal" temperature, however.


How and why does el nino stop?

El Niño events typically end when the ocean-atmosphere interactions that characterize the phenomenon weaken, often due to changes in trade winds and ocean surface temperatures. As the warmer surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific cool, the atmospheric pressure patterns shift, leading to a return to normal or La Niña conditions. This transition can be influenced by various factors, including the seasonal changes and interactions with other climate systems. Ultimately, the cessation of El Niño is a natural part of the climate cycle, restoring balance in the ocean-atmosphere system.


Why do hurricanes strike the US most often between august and October?

That is when the Atlantic Ocean is warmest. Water takes a long time to heat up and cool down, so oceans are generally warmest in late summer and early fall. It is moisture from warm ocean water that provides the fuel to power hurricanes.


If weather moves west to east why isn't Los Angeles wet all the time since the weather blows in from the Pacific Ocean?

The waters of the coast of California are relatively cool. Air blowing over cool water doesn't pick up that much moisture.

Related Questions

How land forms and bodies of water affects typhoon?

Typhoons gain strength when over warm waters, but cool waters and land causes them to lose strength.


Do hurricanes cool the ocean?

No, hurricanes do not cool the ocean. Instead, they can actually warm the ocean due to the mixing of warm surface waters with cooler waters below.


Why does a hurricane weaken over land?

due to specific heat the air over land will cool quickly causing the hurricane to slow down and weaken. That is also on of the main reasons a hurricane can not form over land. That is a small and simple reason. a hurricane must have a heat of at least 80 F or 26.5 C.


Why is the gulf of Mexico prone to hurricanes?

It is a gulf; as such it has warmer waters than the surrounding Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes are formed due to a pretty complex process, but for simplicity, warm waters evaporate quickly; then as they ascend begin to cool down. The difference of temperatures between the warmer waters below and the cooler clouds above generates a "low pressure zone", which leads to a storm and eventually, a hurricane.


How do jellyfish keep cool in the summer?

they live in the ocean. If it gets to hot they just dive down to cooler waters.


How does upwelling affect the distribution of nutrients of the ocean?

Upwelling brings up tiny ocean organisms, minerals, and other nutrients from the deeper layers of the water. Without this motion, the surface waters of the open ocean would be very scarce in nutrients.


What causes a hurricane to lose power?

Landfall is the main thing that causes hurricanes to lose power. Moving northward into cooler water also weakens them. These occur because hurricanes use evaporation from warm ocean water as their energy source. Vertical wind shear can also cause hurricanes to lose power.


What may happen if warm and cool currents did not move through the ocean waters?

ocean tempetures would become either too hot or too cold to support life


Will making ocean water from hot to cold prevent a hurricane?

A hurricane will not form over cold ocean water, that is why hurricanes rarely form in the winter; the ocean is usually too cold. However, you cannot simply cool ocean water like that. The amount of energy stored in the water making it warm is enormous, to great for us to ever hope to manipulate.


Can cold ocean water affect a hurricane?

They do cool the ocean somewhat, but not for the reason many people think. Hurricanes require warm waters to develop, as they derive their energy from the water. But it is not as if they take the water's warmth and turn it into energy. The water evaporates from the ocean and rises, where it eventually condenses into clouds and rain. It is in this condensation process that latent heat is released, really fueling the storm. The temperature of the ocean does not change in this process.Hurricanes cool the ocean (slightly) by literally churning the water, which allows cooler water from below to be up-welled and replace the warmer water. Since water is of course warmest at the surface (since it is heated from above and the warmest water rises anyway), any turbulent wave motion generated by storms will tend to mix up that top layer. As you might guess, the stronger the storm, the more it gets mixed. It eventually returns to its "normal" temperature, however.


Why are el nino waters less dense than those of the surrounding ocean?

El Nino waters are less dense because the waters are warmer and warm water is less dense than cool water. Also, it constantly rains over the ocean during the El Nino, and rain water is less dense than ocean water.


Why are continents warmer than nearby ocean waters during the summer?

Continents warm up and cool down faster than oceans due to differences in heat capacity. During summer, continents absorb more heat from the sun compared to oceans but also lose heat more quickly. This leads to higher temperatures on continents than in adjacent ocean waters.