What role do sea surface temperatures play in climate and weather patterns?
The ocean plays a very important role in the Earth’s climate and weather patterns as dramatically illustrated by the 1997 – 1998 El Nino. Ocean water has a high heat capacity, thus it tends to store heat. In areas of warm sea surface temperatures, high evaporation and convection often produce thunderstorms and rain over nearby land masses. Warm currents like the Gulf Stream warm nearby coastal regions that otherwise would be relatively cool and dry. Warm ocean waters are also an important source of energy for developing hurricanes, this is one reason why during the summer months, the tropical Atlantic ocean is a breeding ground for hurricanes. When hurricanes move over cool water or land, they tend to decrease in strength. 4. Many organisms in the sea have young that begin life as small floating creatures, called plankton. Even those organisms who in their adult forms are strong swimmers or live on the bottom, may begin as plankton and drift with the ocean currents. Understanding ocean
