EPSC 185 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Sea Surface Temperature

• School: McGill University
• Department: Earth & Planetary Sciences
• Course: EPSC 185
• Professor: John Gyakum

Document Summary

Oceanic surface are largely governed by a combo of surface wind patterns and solar radiation. Itc2 is usually situated at equator but migrates. Winds blowing along coast bring up upwelling of cold water. As winds blow east to west the sun heats the water -> explains why water is warmer in western pacific. Not only have the warm waters migrated towards the east, we see more rainy conditions. The trade winds weaken during el nino. This allows the warm ocean temps of central + western pacific to move towards the east. This warm water destroys/suppresses transport/the upwelling of nutrient rich cold waters from below. Increased oceanic surface temperatures can mean stronger and wetter storms for some parts of the world. Economic impact on peruvian fishing is negative.