4.9 El Nino and La Nina

Why is the flow of ocean water an important factor for global climate?

- it moves warm and cold waters to different parts of the globe
- affects primary productivity found in different ocean regions and the climate in neighboring continents

What drives ocean currents?

a combination of:
- temperature
- gravity
- prevailing winds
- the Coriolis effect
- salinity
- the locations of continents

What happens to water that receives the most direct sunlight?

ocean gets warmer

Define gyres

a large scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the N hemisphere and counterclockwise in the S hemisphere

upwelling

upward movement of water to ocean surface due to divergent currents, brings nutrients up

Theromohadline circulation

mixes surface water and deep water

distributes heat and nutrients

Thermocine

transition layer between hot and cool water

Describe normal years

usually tradewinds push warm waters towards the west & north america gets cool water

What are the changes in el nino year

still have trade winds pushing water west but they are weakened, less water pushed towards asia. you get cooler water on the asia side and since less water is being pushed in central america, the water was warmer.

LEADS to drought on other side and flooding on other side

What are the changes in el nina year

trade winds push water west but much stronger. so warm water towards asia