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