Chapter 5 – Chapter 5 – Earth’s WeatherEarth’s Weather

Lesson 3 –Lesson 3 –Oceans & Air Oceans & Air TemperatureTemperature

© Brent Coley 2010 | www.mrcoley.com© Brent Coley 2010 | www.mrcoley.com

How do oceans affect How do oceans affect temperature on land?temperature on land?• Land heats up faster than Land heats up faster than

water.water.– Think of how theThink of how the sand is hotter than sand is hotter than the water at the the water at the beach. beach.

• So, air over water is cooler So, air over water is cooler than air over land.than air over land.

How do oceans affect How do oceans affect temperature on land?temperature on land?• Coastal areas are cooler in Coastal areas are cooler in

the summer and warmer in the summer and warmer in the winter.the winter.

• climateclimate: the average weather : the average weather conditions of an areaconditions of an area

What are ocean currents?What are ocean currents?• currentcurrent: an ongoing : an ongoing

movement of ocean watermovement of ocean water

What are ocean currents?What are ocean currents?• Warm currents heat up the Warm currents heat up the

air above the water and the air above the water and the land the currents pass by.land the currents pass by.

• Cold currents cool off the Cold currents cool off the land they pass by.land they pass by.

What are ocean currents?What are ocean currents?• During El Niño, storms affect During El Niño, storms affect

the coasts of North and the coasts of North and South America.South America.

All images courtesy of All images courtesy of Microsoft Office Online.Microsoft Office Online.