Download Chapter- Oceans

Oceanic Influences on Climate
Ocean currents redistribute heat
Large scale currents are called gyres
QuickTime™ and a
Sorenson Video decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
Sorenson Video decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
North
Atlantic
Gyre
Includes
the Gulf
Stream
SST in Gulf Stream- July
Influence of Gulf stream SST on air temp
Walker cell
circulation
El Nino and La Nina
years since 1950.
El Nino years produce
weird weather in
North America
La Nina years are
more “normal”
Prevailing wind flow along
the ITCZ pushes warm
water eastward
Position of ITCZ shifts
North with Northern
Hemisphere summer and
south with the Southern
Hemisphere summer
SST July- Illustrating El Nino Southern
Oscillation (ENSO)
SST- Equatorial Pacific July
SST January- El Nino Southern Oscillation
El Nino circulation
La Nina circulation
Fronts (1:2)
･ Transition zone between air masses
- described according to air mass which is
approaching and relative motion
･ Cold Front (can move very fast)
- colder air mass moving faster than warmer air
- lifts warm air up in front of it
- may form something called a "dry line"
> associated with strong thunderstorm development
Fronts (2:2)
･ Warm Front (typically moves more slowly)
- warmer air mass moving faster than cooler air
- warm air rides up over cold dense air
- usually a wider band of "active" weather
Cyclonic storms
･ Associated with Low pressure systems
･ Lows moved by Upper level high velocity winds
- Jetstream
･ usually involve air masses with different properties
- one warm the other cold
- one humid the other dry