- How does the Ocean Affect the Weather?

- Water, gases, and energy are exchanged between the ocean and atmosphere

- Moderates the surface temperatures of the ocean

- Shapes the Earth’s weather and climate- Generates most of the ocean’s waves

This Exchange:

-WEATHER is the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time - CLIMATE is the long-term (30 year) average of weather in an area

- Both weather and climate are affected by the ocean

- Lets see some examples of how the ocean influences our weather

                                                                                                                                      

                                          

Ever Notice???

Our weather here is different than the weather inland?

Ocean’s effect on local weather

WINTER

Water is warmer than land during winter. The ocean warms the cities right along the coast.

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SUMMER

Water is cooler than the land during summer. Now the oceans cools the coastal cities.

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Why is there almost always a breeze at the beach?

- The land and water heat at different rates

- Land heats and cools faster than the water

Cooler Ocean Warmer Land

Warmer temperatures cause air to riseOnshore Breeze

Cool air sinks to fill in the space

Afternoon Breezes are onshore

Clouds Form

Afternoon Showers

Warmer Ocean Cooler Land

Warmer temperatures cause air to rise

Offshore Breeze

Cool air sinks to fill in the space

Evening Breezes are offshore

- Great masses of warm, humid, rotating air

- Occur in tropical oceans

-Called “Hurricanes” in the North Atlantic

“Typhoons” in the Western Pacific

“Cyclones” in the Indian Ocean

“Wili-Wilis” near Australia

- Hurricanes start out as Tropical Depressions (Low Pressure Zones) off the coast of Africa or in the Caribbean

- Next, when their wind speeds reach 40 mph they become Tropical Storms (and they get a name)

- They become Hurricanes once they reach a wind speed of 74mph

                                                                        

Typical Hurricane Path is around the Atlantic’s high pressure cell

•Category One -- Winds 74-95 miles per hour •Category Two -- Winds 96-110 miles per hour •Category Three -- Winds 111-130 miles per hour •Category Four -- Winds 131-155 miles per hour •Category Five -- Winds greater than 155 miles per hour

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Most hurricanes make landfall in the Southeast U.S. of Gulf States

Names for Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclones

2002

ArthurBerthaCristobalDollyEdouardFayGustavHannaIsidoreJosephineKyleLiliMarcoNanaOmarPalomaReneSallyTeddyVickyWilfred

2003

AnaBillClaudetteDannyErikaFabianGraceHenriIsabelJuanKateLarryMindyNicholasOdettePeterRoseSamTeresaVictorWanda

2004

Alex Bonnie Charley Danielle EarlFrancesGastonHermineIvan Jeanne Karl LisaMatthewNicole Otto PaulaRichardShary TomasVirginieWalter

2005ArleneBretCindyDennisEmilyFranklinGertHarveyIreneJoseKatrinaLeeMariaNateOpheliaPhilippeRitaStanTammyVinceWilma

2006AlbertoBerylChrisDebbyErnestoFlorenceGordonHeleneIsaacJoyceKirkLeslieMichaelNadineOscarPattyRafaelSandyTonyValerieWilliam

2007*AllisonBarryChantalDeanErinFelixGabrielleHumbertoIrisJerryKarenLorenzoMichelleNoelOlgaPabloRebekahSebastienTanyaVanWendy

A hurricane’s energy source is warm seawater (>80°F)