Oceans affecting weather and climate
The oceans affect many weather changes on the continents. They soak up sunlight and heat energy. The heat is carried to other parts of the world through ocean currents. Oceans also help with the water cycle. When it gets hot enough, surface water evaporates, helping to form clouds and storms. Some scientists believe that the oceans will evaporate entirely in the future due to global warming.
Storms at sea
There are many types of ocean storms. Tsunamis, hurricanes, and waterspouts are a few examples of ocean storms. They are all very different, but they have one thing in common: they all connect with oceans.
A waterspout is a column of rotating, cloud-filled wind. It descends from a cumulous cloud onto an ocean (or lake). Waterspouts are very similar to tornadoes, but tornadoes are more destructive than waterspouts. However, a waterspout can start as a tornado on land and then move onto water. Those are the most destructive kind of waterspouts. For a waterspout to form, there has to be a high level of humidity and warm water temperature.
Tsunamis are series of huge ocean waves caused by underwater tremors like undersea volcanic eruptions, landslides or earthquakes. Most tsunamis happen in the area of the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is a geologically active area, so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. Tsunamis move very fast in deep ocean water. In fact, they can move across water up to 500 miles (850 kilometers) an hour! Once they begin to reach the shore and shallower water, they slow down and start to grow in energy and height. The tops of the tsunamis move a lot faster than the bottoms do, which causes them to rise and grow even more. But the trough of a tsunami usually reaches the shore first. When it does, a sort of wave vacuum starts and sucks in coastal water, revealing the sea floor. This is an important sign of a tsunami and people can evacuate if this sign is recognized.
Hurricanes are giant, spiral tropical storms that begin as tropical disturbances in warm waters (with temperatures of at least 80 degrees F). Once storms reach wind speeds of 38 miles an hour, it becomes a tropical depression which becomes a tropical storm and is given a name after it sustains a wind speed of 39 miles an hour. When the storm's sustained wind speed tops 74 miles an hour, it becomes a hurricane and is rated 1 to 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricanes generate huge amounts of energy. They draw heat from moist ocean air and release it through the condensation of water vapor in thunderstorms. Hurricanes also twist around a low-pressure center commonly called "the eye". Because of sinking air, the 20-30 mile wide area is strangely calm. The eye is surrounded by a circle of the storm's strongest winds and rain, called the "eye wall". When a hurricane touches land it usually produces a highly destructive storm surge. Ninety percent of all hurricane deaths are caused by the storm surges. A hurricane's high winds can also wreak havoc on the land by starting small tornadoes. Torrential rains can cause landslides and floods.
A waterspout is a column of rotating, cloud-filled wind. It descends from a cumulous cloud onto an ocean (or lake). Waterspouts are very similar to tornadoes, but tornadoes are more destructive than waterspouts. However, a waterspout can start as a tornado on land and then move onto water. Those are the most destructive kind of waterspouts. For a waterspout to form, there has to be a high level of humidity and warm water temperature.
Tsunamis are series of huge ocean waves caused by underwater tremors like undersea volcanic eruptions, landslides or earthquakes. Most tsunamis happen in the area of the Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is a geologically active area, so earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. Tsunamis move very fast in deep ocean water. In fact, they can move across water up to 500 miles (850 kilometers) an hour! Once they begin to reach the shore and shallower water, they slow down and start to grow in energy and height. The tops of the tsunamis move a lot faster than the bottoms do, which causes them to rise and grow even more. But the trough of a tsunami usually reaches the shore first. When it does, a sort of wave vacuum starts and sucks in coastal water, revealing the sea floor. This is an important sign of a tsunami and people can evacuate if this sign is recognized.
Hurricanes are giant, spiral tropical storms that begin as tropical disturbances in warm waters (with temperatures of at least 80 degrees F). Once storms reach wind speeds of 38 miles an hour, it becomes a tropical depression which becomes a tropical storm and is given a name after it sustains a wind speed of 39 miles an hour. When the storm's sustained wind speed tops 74 miles an hour, it becomes a hurricane and is rated 1 to 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Hurricanes generate huge amounts of energy. They draw heat from moist ocean air and release it through the condensation of water vapor in thunderstorms. Hurricanes also twist around a low-pressure center commonly called "the eye". Because of sinking air, the 20-30 mile wide area is strangely calm. The eye is surrounded by a circle of the storm's strongest winds and rain, called the "eye wall". When a hurricane touches land it usually produces a highly destructive storm surge. Ninety percent of all hurricane deaths are caused by the storm surges. A hurricane's high winds can also wreak havoc on the land by starting small tornadoes. Torrential rains can cause landslides and floods.