Climate, Climate and the Ocean

Question 1

What four elements are exchanged between the ocean and atmosphere?

Answer 1

1. Heat
2. Gases
3. Aerosols
4. Momentum

Question 2

Why is there spatial and temporal variation in the storage and transport of heat and gases within the ocean?

Answer 2

Water can move heat and gases between places both in contact and not in contact with the atmosphere. Heat and gases are therefore released at different times and at different locations

Question 3

What are the differences in the speed and storage of heat for the atmosphere and ocean?

Answer 3

Atmosphere: Moves quickly, little heat storage

Ocean: Moves slowly, huge heat storage

Question 4

ENSO

Answer 4

The El Niño Southern Oscillation is an ocean-atmosphere cycle that occurs every 2 to 10 years at the Equatorial Pacific.

ENSO is the largest interannual climate variation process in the world. Although it changes global weather patterns, these changes are most prominent in the Equatorial Pacific

Question 5

What are three different states of ENSO?

Answer 5

1. Neutral conditions (very brief)
2. El Niño
3. La Niña

Question 6

What are the five charcateristics of El Niño conditions?

Answer 6

1. Trade winds weaken
2. Warm water moves Eastward
3. Rain moves Eastward
4. Drought on Western side
5. Nutrient poor waters in East

Question 7

What are the five charcateristics of La Niña conditions?

Answer 7

1. Similar to neutral conditions but more intense
2. Strong trade winds
3. Warm pool in West
4. Rain in the West
5. Strong upwelling in the East

Question 8

In what two locations is atmospheric pressure measured to determine ENSO stages?

Answer 8

Darwin and Tahiti because they are both near the Equator

Question 9

What basic equation determines the strength of trade winds and the ENSO stages?

Answer 9

Tahiti - Darwin= high or low

High = La Niña, strong trade winds

Low = El Niño, weak trade winds

Question 10

What are the two hypothesised triggers for El Niño?

Answer 10

1. Thunderstorm activity in the Indian Ocean
2. An ocean trigger from far off the Equator

Question 11

Teleconnections

Answer 11

The two way interaction between climate variables at the Equator and other locations around the world

Question 12

Atmospheric bridge

Answer 12

The atmosphere ‘carries information’ (heat, gases, etc) from the Equatorial Pacific to other locations around the world

Question 13

What happens to rainfall in NZ during the ENSO stages?

Answer 13

La Niña: Increase
El Niño: Decrease

As of 2023, we are currently in a La Niña event now going into El Niño

Question 14

What two extreme cliamtic events is ENSO responsible for?

Answer 14

Floods and droughts