Chapter 3: Bodies of water influence climate and species distribution

• Read pp. 80-83

Oceans and Climate

• Water has a high heat capacity Water heats up and cools down slowly, and can absorb

large amounts of thermal energy. Oceans can store and transport huge amounts of energy Oceans influence weather

through the water cycle

• Weather tracked over many years = climate Climates vary greatly

around the world Climate measures temperature +

precipitation > 30 years

• Do questions 1-4, p. 83

• Read p. 85-86

(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007

How Oceans Affect Weather

• Through convection, heat energy transfers from the ocean’s surface to the air, and this warm air rises The warm “bubble” of air is called a thermal The thermal rises until it loses its heat, and then drops back

down again. This process of heat transfer is called convection.

• El Niño is the warming ocean effect that occurs some years in December off the Pacific coast of Ecuador. El Niño can change the weather around the world, including

warmer and wetter in BC, and droughts in Africa and Australia. Changing ocean temperatures also cause sea life to change

behaviours. La Niña is a cooling of similar waters, and produces

almost the opposite effects of El Niño.

The Moderating Effect of Oceans on Climate

• Oceans can make cold, northern locations warmer Locations like BC, Norway and England benefit Because of water’s high heat capacity, heat energy can be

carried from south to north by currents like the Gulf Stream (in England and Norway) or the Pacific Drift (in BC). As the warm water evaporates, it carries energy over the

mainland of the province. Edmonton and Manchester, England are the same

latitude

Edmonton, Alberta

January average temperature = 7 C

Manchester, England

January average temperature = +6 C

The Moderating Effect of Oceans on Climate(continued)

• For these reasons, we can see considerable differences between locations at the same approximate latitude (distance from the equator) in BC

• Do questions 1-4, p. 87

• Do Activity 3-2, p. 87 (questions 1-5)

• Read Science Watch p. 88

• Check your understanding... P. 89, questions 1-10 and the Pause and Reflect.