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How does the ocean affect the weather?
Heat transfers readily from ocean to atmosphere, and much of the sun's radiation is absorbed by the ocean. In fact, the upper ten feet (3 metres) of the ocean holds as much heat as the entire atmosphere. Ocean currents move warm surface water away from the tropics and return cold water to them via the ocean floor in a conveyer system. As the surface currents flow, they release heat into the environment, and thereby affect our weather. (YT)
Heat transfers readily from ocean to atmosphere, and much of the sun's radiation is absorbed by the ocean. In fact, the upper ten feet (3 metres) of the ocean holds as much heat as the entire atmosphere. Ocean currents move warm surface water away from the tropics and return cold water to them via the ocean floor in a conveyer system. As the surface currents flow, they release heat into the environment, and thereby affect our weather. (YT)
Ep 2/5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkOJm_ic3s0&feature=PlayList&p=8C9E147874497599&index=1
Ep 3/5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh0abDcrXas&feature=PlayList&p=8C9E147874497599&index=2
Ep 4/5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXcCtXTFjzI&feature=PlayList&p=8C9E147874497599&index=3
Ep 5/5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxRxMpk0ZOs&feature=PlayList&p=8C9E147874497599&index=4
the idea that the climate could have a rubber-banding sort of effect, by reaching some threshold at which a trend rapidly reverses, is definitely not out of the realm of possibility.
and here's a little thought experiment to consider, as you watch this.
if you fill one icecube tray with warm water, and one with cold, and put them both in the freezer, while will be fully solid ice first?
please do NOT simply reply below here with what you think, or know, the answer to be.
the point is that, counter-intuitive though one of the answers may be, you can still think of plausible scientific theories why either outcome is possible.
Thanks to Maus15 and Burdturgler for setting that up!