Healthy Oceans Lesson 3: Oceans & the Climate
Please read pages 428-432 to answer the following questions
Oceans are like Earth’s thermostat, keeping the planet comfortable for life. The currents of ocean water
___Move____ and __Mix__ waters of different temperatures around the ______Globe____. This
movement of water affect climates and weather patterns everywhere
Heat Capacity: __is a measure of how long it takes for a material to heat up or cool down____________
Describe water’s heat capacity: ___it absorbs a lot of heat before it begins to get hot. water also helps
regulate the rate at which air changes temperature, which is why the temperature change between
seasons is gradual rather than sudden, especially near the oceans.___________
Compare weather and climate: ___Weather can be described in terms of temperature, wind speed and
direction, air pressure, and moisture. Climate refers to weather in a particular region averaged out over
a long period.________
According to the textbook (2006), what is the average temperature on Earth? ___15_oC
Examples of The Ocean & The Atmosphere Interacting with Each Other
What is the El Nino effect? ____refers to the warm ocean waters off the coast of Ecuador and Peru that
appear every year, around Christmas. Usually, the currents only last two to four weeks, and then the
warm waters are replaced by cooler waters. Sometimes, however, the ocean waters stay unusually
warm for several months. These warmer-than-normal waters lead to unusual weather patterns. Results
of wetter weather in some parts of the world and creates drought in others.
Using Figure 11.26 in textbook (pg. 430), colour in the image of Earth below to demonstrate an el Nino
effect. Be sure to state what colour represents warmest water and what colour represents the coolest
water.
Describe La Nina effect: ______This is a period when upwelling causes colder-than-normal waters to
come to the surface off the coast of South America. Often produces the opposite climatic effects to El
Nino (areas where drought is brought by el Nino have wetter-than-normal periods)______
Compare El Nino and La Nina effects: ________El Nino brings in warm water where as El Nina brings in
colder water. Both cause weather changes around the world but cause opposite effects
____________________________________________________________________________________
Moderating Effect of Oceans on Climate: The effect on different areas in BC (pg 431-432)
Ocean temperatures can noticeably affect the climate of ___Coastal______ areas. Look at the climatic
zones in British Columbia on page 433. Compare the climatic zone of where we live (___________
______________________ and the _________________) to another climatic zone of your choice in BC:
Climatic zone (where we live): _______________
_______________________________________
Description: ___________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Average Temperature:
July: _____ oC
January: ______oC
Climatic zone (other): ____________________
______________________________________
Description: ___________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Average Temperature:
July: _____ oC
January: ______oC