water systems chapter 3 bodies of water influence climate and species distribution
TRANSCRIPT
Water SystemsChapter 3
Bodies of Water Influence climate and species distribution
Section 3.1 Oceans and Climate page 82
Weather The short term conditions
in the atmosphere at a specific place and time
Described in terms of: Temperature Moisture Winds speed and
direction Air pressure
Climate Weather
conditions for a particular region averaged over a l o n g period of time (approximately 30 years)
Vs
Specific Heat Capacity - The amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of an object or liquid
Water has a HIGH specific heat capacity
It takes a LARGE amount of
heat to increase the temperature a small amount.
It then takes a L O N G time to cool down again
HUGE
Some Specific Heat Capacities compared to Water
Oceans can store LARGE amounts of HEAT and currents can transport that HEAT to other parts of the world. Ocean temperatures can noticeably affect the CLIMATES of costal areas.
Ex: The Gulf Stream and Labrador Current greatly determine the climate of NL
Convection - The process of heat transfer from one place to another by the movement of warm fluids from place to place
• As the ocean is WARMED, the air over it WARMS
• The air is then less dense and rises
• As it rises in the atmosphere, it COOLS and becomes dense again
• It sinks over the ocean and is WARMED again
Convection creates weather patterns all over the earth!
Due to the Oceans HIGH Heat Capacity:
• Oceans stay warmer through the fall and into winter than land masses.
• Oceans remain cooler through spring and into summer.
• This keeps the climate of coastal areas from being extremely HOT in the summer and extremely COLD in the winter.
• This is called a MODERATE CLIMATE (NL)
Pacific Ocean Patterns:
The Pacific Ocean near the EQUATOR receives more sunlight than any other place on Earth!
The warmer waters are carried WEST by the
Pacific Trade Winds and this allows the deeper,
cooler nutrient rich waters to RISE UP!
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In the Spring the Trade winds slow down and cool water
DOES NOT rise up!
The water temperature INCREASES
Within a few weeks the Trade Winds increase again.
El Nino
Every 3-7 years the trade winds DO NOT increase again and the waters keep rising in Temperature, leading to abnormal weather patterns.
In different places in the world, El Nino causes changing rainfall patterns, drought, fires, severe storms and flooding
Marine life is negatively affected.
The cool ocean temperatures bring the reverse conditions of El Nino.
Marine Life Flourishes!
Na NinaIn this case the trade winds DO NOT slow down and cooler water keeps rising.
El Nino and La Nina Summary
El Nino La NinaTrade Winds Decrease Increase
Temperature Increase Decrease
WeatherIncreased Extremes (Floods,
Droughts)
Decreased Extremes
Marine Productivity
Decrease Increase
Check Your Understanding
Questions page 89 # 1-10
Human Impact on Water Systems
Section 3.2 page 100
1. Construction – for transportation or resource gathering purposes
PROS - helps transportation
- CONS - disrupts marine life
Ex: PEIConfederation Bridge
2. Offshore Oil Industry
PROS - access to oil underneath the sea floor
- CONS – Pollutes: ~ form oil rigs
~ drainage from cities and farms~ untreated waste disposal from
factories
- Seismic testing (used to locate oil deposits with shock waves which damage the marine life)
3. Factory Trawlers – large ships that have freezers and extra storage
PROS – help toget large amounts of fish since the ship can stay at sea longer. Uses sonar to locate fish
CONS – overfishing
4. Aquaculture – the growing and harvesting of marine species in a controlled marine area
PROS – humans can harvest farmed fish and leave the wild marine life in the ocean
- CONS – sometimes these farmed fish can escape, introducing a foreign fish or disease into an area