Prevailing Winds
Prevailing winds, the dominant winds that blow in a particular region, significantly impact ocean temperatures.
- When prevailing winds blow away from the shore (offshore winds), they drag warm surface water outwards.
- This creates a vacancy near the coast.
- To fill this gap, colder water from deeper ocean layers rises towards the surface in a process called upwelling.
- Upwelling brings nutrient-rich cold water to the surface, which boosts marine productivity by fueling phytoplankton growth and creates cooler coastal regions compared to what surrounding water temperatures would suggest.
- Conversely, onshore winds (blowing towards the shore) can push warm surface water towards the coast, causing it to pile up.
- This leads to warmer coastal waters compared to offshore areas.
Examples :
- California Current: Prevailing winds blowing south along the west coast of North America cause upwelling, creating cool and nutrient-rich waters ideal for marine life like kelp forests.
- Peru Current: Strong southerly winds off the coast of Peru trigger upwelling, bringing cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, creating a highly productive fishing zone.
Temperature of Ocean Water| Class 11 Chapter 12 Geography Notes
The ocean water temperature is directly affected by the amount of radiation received from the sun on the ocean surface. The latitudes are closer to the equator and receive direct sunlight all over the years the ocean surface is warmer in these regions where sunlight falls.
The ocean temperatures are different in terms of depth and longitude. There is an inverse relation between the depth and temperature of the ocean. Wherever in the ocean if the depth is deeper than the lower the temperature would be.
In this article, You will learn about the Temperature of ocean water, the Horizontal and Vertical distribution of the ocean temp, and many more related to the topic.
Temperature of Ocean Water| Class 11 Chapter 12 Geography Notes