Notes:

Summarize: Five lines to write on

Width ~ 3 Fingers

Key Words and Questions:

Hydrospheric Effects on Climate Change

Why are oceans

important for

temperature regulation?

• Oceans have a low albedo; so they absorb more heat than land; and retain it after sunset and seasonal changes (due to hydrogen bonds)

Effect of Heat Energy on Oceans

• More heat more evaporation increase in temperature and humidity of surrounding areas resulting in storms

Currents

• Movements of ocean water in a continuous flow driven by surface winds, temperature (density), and salinity (density)

What is the role of

currents and heat

distribution?

• Currents transport warm water from the equator to cooler regions and bring cooler nutrient filled water back from the poles

What is the effect of ocean

currents on climate?

• They redistribute energy from the uneven heating of Earth

• Prevents temperatures from being too extreme and areas from becoming inhabitable

Effect of Global

Climate Change on Currents

• As global ocean temperatures increase, there is less temperature differences between equator and poles, thus slowing/stopping global currents

• No more cold currents to moderate warm temperatures

• No more nutrient filled upwelling killing ocean life

ENSO

• El Nino – Southern Oscillation

• Periodic Warming (El Nino) and Cooling (La Nina) of the Pacific Ocean

• El Nino/La Nina last several months

• Happen every 2 to 7 years; El Nino more often

• Change normal temperature and precipitation patterns in the US

Effect of Glaciers

• “planet’s air conditioner”

• High albedo reflect more energy/light

• Take longer to form than to breakdown

• Melting at alarming rate rise in sea levels and global temperatures

Increased surface temperature

Increased glacier melting

Decreased albedo (reflected sun)

More heat retained