4.9 El Niño and La Niña Flashcards
El Niño
El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, leading to changes in weather patterns around the world.
Imagine El Niño as a hot tub party in the Pacific Ocean. The warm waters create a ripple effect, causing disruptions in weather systems globally.
La Niña
La Niña is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean become unusually cool, leading to changes in weather patterns around the world.
Think of La Niña as an icy blast from Antarctica spreading across the Pacific Ocean. The cold waters disrupt normal weather patterns and bring about different climatic conditions globally.
Thermocline
The thermocline is a layer within large bodies of water where there is a rapid change in temperature with depth. It acts as a barrier that separates warmer surface waters from colder deep waters
Imagine the thermocline as a curtain dividing a swimming pool into two sections - one warm and one cold. The curtain represents the sharp temperature gradient, preventing mixing between the layers.
Upwelling
Upwelling refers to the process where cold, nutrient-rich waters from deeper parts of an ocean rise to replace warmer surface waters. It often occurs near coastlines and supports productive ecosystems.
Ocean Heat Capacity
Ocean heat capacity refers to how much heat energy can be absorbed by seawater without significantly changing its temperature. The high heat capacity of oceans helps regulate Earth’s climate by absorbing and storing large amounts of heat.
Think of oceans as giant sponges that soak up heat energy like a sponge soaks up water. Just like a wet sponge takes longer to dry than a small cloth, it takes longer for oceans to release stored heat compared to land masses.
