Energy from the sun: Ocean currents & Land Temperature

Energy from the sun: Ocean currents & Land Temperature

When energy from the Sun reaches the Earth, it warms the atmosphere, land, and ocean and evaporates water. It is what drives the weather, climate, and the water cycle. Much of the Sun's energy is absorbed or reflected by Earth's atomosphere. The Earth absorbs most of the energy that makes it to the surface, a small fraction is reflected. Land and water absorb and release heat from the sun in different ways.

Think about the beach... When walking in the sand on a sunny day, it feels very hot on your feet!

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Land & heat energy

• Land is a solid
• It heats up quickly because it doesn't require much energy to increase its temperature
• At night, it cools down quickly

The difference in ocean and land's ability to store heat results in differences in weather and climate. This is why we have breezes and ocean currents!

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Oceans & heat energy

• Oceans are liquids
• They heat up slowly because it requires a lot of energy to increase their temperature
• Oceans can store more heat without raising the temperature
• Water stays cooler during the day compared to land
• At night, the ocean stays warm longer and helps to keep nearby areas warm

Breezes

Check out the image to the right showing the difference between night and day at the coast. The difference in temperature causes different types of breezes to be created.

The Ocean, Weather, & Climate

The ocean influences weather and climate by storing the Sun's energy, distributing heat and moisture around the globe, and driving weather systems. Most of the Sun's energy that makes it to Earth's surface is absorbed by the oceans, especially near the equator.

Ocean Currents

An ocean current is like a river of water flowing under the surface. Ocean currents are mainly caused by surface winds, as well as heat from the Sun, salt content, tides, and Earth's rotation. Currents usually flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere, in circular patterns that often trace the coastlines.

Ocean Currents

• Ocean currents move warm water from the equator toward the poles and bring cold water back to the equator.
• The movement of water helps regulate the temperature of our planet, affecting weather patterns and climate.
• Without ocean currents, we would have much more extreme temperatures at the Equator and the poles.

Oceans & Weather

• Oceans help to distribute heat around Earth. When water molecules are heated, they evaporate, or turn from a liquid state to a gas state (water vapor).

• Constant evaporation leads to an increase in temperture and humidity of the surrounding air
• The air then forms rain and storms that get carried by wind
• Almost all rain that falls on land starts in the ocean

Deep ocean currents work like a convection current

• Warmer water is less dense and rises
• Cooler water is more dense and sinks
• This helps to distribute heat throughout Earth

Breezes work like a convection current

• Warmer air is less dense and rises
• Cooler air is more dense and sinks

The video to the left shows paper spinning due to a convection current.

During the night...

The land is cooler and the ocean is warmer

• The warm air from the ocean moves toward the cool land
• The cool air from the land moves toward the ocean, creating a breeze

During the day...

The land is warmer and the ocean is cooler

• The warm air on land moves toward the cool ocean
• The cool air from the ocean moves toward the land, creating a breeze