Hydro vs Cliamte

1. Notes:
Summarize: Five lines to write on
Width ~ 3 Fingers
Key Words and
Questions:
Hydrospheric Effects on Climate
Change

2. Why are
oceans
important
for
temperature
regulation?
• Oceans have a low albedo; so they absorb more heat
than land; and retain it after sunset and seasonal
changes (due to hydrogen bonds)

3. Effect of
Heat Energy
on Oceans
• More heat  more evaporation  increase in
temperature and humidity of surrounding areas
resulting in storms

4. Currents
• Movements of ocean water in a continuous flow driven
by surface winds, temperature (density), and salinity
(density)

5. What is the
role of
currents and
heat
distribution?
• Currents transport warm water from the equator to
cooler regions and bring cooler nutrient filled water
back from the poles

6. What is the
effect of
ocean
currents on
climate?
• They redistribute energy from the uneven heating of
Earth
• Prevents temperatures from being too extreme and
areas from becoming inhabitable

7. Effect of
Global
Climate
Change on
Currents
• As global ocean temperatures increase, there is less
temperature differences between equator and poles,
thus slowing/stopping global currents
• No more cold currents to moderate warm temperatures
• No more nutrient filled upwelling killing ocean life

8. ENSO
• El Nino – Southern Oscillation
• Periodic Warming (El Nino) and Cooling (La Nina) of the
Pacific Ocean
• El Nino/La Nina last several months
• Happen every 2 to 7 years; El Nino more often
• Change normal temperature and precipitation patterns
in the US

9. Effect of
Glaciers
• “planet’s air conditioner”
• High albedo reflect more energy/light
• Take longer to form than to breakdown
• Melting at alarming rate  rise in sea levels and global
temperatures
Increased surface
temperature
Increased glacier
melting
Decreased albedo
(reflected sun)
More heat retained