Sea surface temperature

Definition

Sea surface temperature (SST) refers to the temperature of the top layer of the ocean, which plays a crucial role in regulating climate and weather patterns. Variations in SST influence atmospheric circulation, ocean currents, and phenomena like El Niño and La Niña, making it a key factor in understanding climate oscillations and their impact on global weather systems.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. SST is measured using buoys, satellites, and ships, providing critical data for weather forecasting and climate research.
2. El Niño events are associated with higher-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, which can disrupt typical weather patterns across the globe.
3. La Niña events result in lower-than-average sea surface temperatures and can lead to increased rainfall in some regions while causing droughts in others.
4. The average global sea surface temperature has been rising over the past century due to climate change, affecting marine ecosystems and weather patterns.
5. SST affects hurricane formation and intensity, with warmer waters contributing to more powerful storms and increased precipitation.

Review Questions

• How does sea surface temperature influence weather patterns and atmospheric circulation?
  • Sea surface temperature directly influences weather patterns by affecting atmospheric circulation. Warmer SST can lead to increased evaporation, which enhances moisture in the atmosphere, potentially resulting in more intense storms and precipitation. Conversely, cooler SST can suppress storm development and alter wind patterns, ultimately impacting global climate systems.
• Compare and contrast the effects of El Niño and La Niña on global weather phenomena with respect to sea surface temperatures.
  • El Niño is characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, leading to increased rainfall in some areas and droughts in others. In contrast, La Niña features cooler-than-normal SST, often resulting in opposite effects such as increased hurricanes in the Atlantic and wetter conditions in Southeast Asia. Both phenomena demonstrate how shifts in SST can significantly alter regional climates and weather events worldwide.
• Evaluate the long-term trends of sea surface temperature changes due to climate change and discuss their implications for future weather patterns.
  • Long-term trends show that sea surface temperatures are rising globally due to climate change, resulting in significant implications for future weather patterns. Warmer SST contributes to stronger hurricanes, altered precipitation patterns, and shifting ecosystems in marine environments. These changes can exacerbate existing climatic issues like droughts or floods, highlighting the need for improved climate models to predict how ongoing SST increases will affect global weather systems.

Related terms

Thermocline: A layer in the ocean where temperature changes rapidly with depth, separating warmer surface waters from cooler deep waters.

El Niño: A climate pattern characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to significant global weather changes.

La Niña: A climate pattern that represents the cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often resulting in opposite weather effects compared to El Niño.