Thermohaline Circulation, El Nino Southern Oscillation
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Thermohaline Circulation
a big ocean "conveyor belt" that moves water all around the world. It mixes up salt, nutrients, and temperature in the oceans
Warm water from the Gulf of Mexico (near the equator) moves toward the North Pole
As it moves, it cools down and loses some water to evaporation (water turning into air)
Near the poles, the water gets colder and saltier, making it heavier, so it sinks down to the ocean floor
This water then moves along the ocean floor and eventually rises back up in places where upwelling happens, bringing nutrients to the surface
El Nino Southern Oscillation
El Niño and La Niña are two different weather patterns that happen in the Pacific Ocean, between South America and Australia/Southeast Asia
El Niño happens when the ocean gets warmer and there is more rain. It can cause wetter weather along the coast of South America
La Niña is the opposite. It happens when the ocean gets cooler and there is less rain. This can make the weather drier