Chapter 4Global Climate and Biomes

Zonal weather pattern is not completely true

The pattern is disrupted by land-sea contrastsMaui, HI San Diego, CA

What warms up quicker: Land or Water?

• Dry Air at room temperature – 1.01 Joules

• Water at 25 C – 4.18 Joules

• Based on these numbers, which warms up quicker? Why?

Ocean Currents

• Ocean currents are driven by:

• Temperature • Gravity• Prevailing winds• Coriolis effect• Locations of

continents

Gyres• the large-scale

patterns of water circulation

Gyres

• Redistribute heat in the ocean

• Cold polar water along west sides of continents (vice versa east coasts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-gqJAsXiKQ

Upwelling

• as the surface currents separate, deeper waters rise and replace the water that has moved away

• Cold H2O nutrient rich

Thermohaline Circulation• Drives mixing of surface

water and deep water

• Crucial for moving heat and nutrients

• Caused by surface waters with high salt content

Thermohaline Circulation

El Nino-Southern Oscillation

Rain Shadow

• Windward side – moist air rises and cools causing rain

• Leeward side – air descends, higher pressure high temp (dry)