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Old Tuesday, November 13, 2007
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EFFECTS ON WEATHER AND CLIMATE

The weather is determined largely by the ocean behavior and the relationship that exists between sea and air.

The ocean act as Thermo-Accumulator or Bank of Heat. The solar radiation is stored in the oceans and released slowly in cold times so that the climate of the adjacent land gets a tempering touch. To understand the weather one has to understand the oceans and conversely to understand the oceans one has to understand the circulation of the atmosphere.

The effect of atmosphere is evident from the fact that 90% of the surface ocean currents are wind-driven. Indeed the storage of heat in the ocean waters is due to the stirring effect caused by the winds. The study of Meteorology alone will not give a full picture of the heat and water balance of the atmosphere. Water and heat affect man the most.

The circulation of the oceans is also limited with the climate. Oceans have a capacity to retain heat in contrast to the atmosphere. The British Climate is completely dependent on the warm currents from equator, without which the equator would be much hotter and the poles much colder.

Oceans are the Blood Streams which distribute and regulate the Earth’s heat.

The drastic effect on climate of a change in ocean currents is demonstrated in Peru. The normal climate there tends to be cool, foggy, but almost rainless during a cool ocean current from the Antarctic. But every 10 years or so a warm current no more than 10 ft. deep slides down the coast brining tropical rain, flood and havoc. The current is called El Nino and occurs near 12o south of equator.

It is the Peruvian Current which renders the Chilean and Peruvian Coasts rainless. The animals and plants that attract huge shoals of fish. Consequently millions of sea birds gather here to feed on fish. Their droppings completely whiten the coastal cliffs and islands, forming thick deposits of Guano, a valuable source of fertilizer.

The Gulf Stream is so warm that its warming effect is also noticeable in the arctic ocean. It modifies the temperature of the cold regions that it washes, and does not allow the waters of the oceans to freeze and supplies the winds that blow over them with warmth and moisture so that when they reach the continents, they are able to bring enough rainfall. The British Isles and the Western Europe derive the greatest benefit from these warm currents directly through the North Atlantic Drift and indirectly through the Westerlies that reach the continent after having passed over them.

The Labrador Current brings the great fall in temperature at the eastern coast of North America. It brings the cold Arctic water which merges with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. At this point (near New Foundland) a lot of fog is produced which is dangerous for shipping. Besides, it brings many icebergs; floating blocks of ice, which often collide with the ships and cause disasters. So because of obstruction to navigation, this is known as the “Cold Wall” near New York.

The exchange of energy between the sea and the air is not yet understood completely, and more knowledge would lead to great improvements on long range weather forecasting. The ocean currents have a controlling effect on fisheries also.
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