Have you ever thought about why the temperature of one beach varies from the other, located just a few miles away? Many have asked physical oceanographers who study the temperature, movement, and physical parameters of global and local oceans to explain the science behind the varying temperatures from one sea to another.
Here is a definite answer to this. Since our planet receives heat from the sun in the form of solar energy, the amount of radiation reaching different parts of the earth differs from each other. For example, only 40% of the sunlight reaches the poles to that of the earth’s equator.
Therefore, the temperature varies from ocean to ocean, depending on the amount of sunlight received in different locations.
What Are The Main Reasons Behind Varying Ocean Temperatures?
As we mentioned above, the main forces that cause variation in the temperature from one sea to another are solar energy and the wind. Since the earth is round, the surface’s angle relative to the incoming solar radiation differs with latitude.
For example, at the equator in the low latitudinal area, the temperature of oceans stays warm all year long, up to 30°C. Whereas, at high latitudes, at the North and the South poles, there is almost no sunlight, and the ocean’s temperature drops up to -2°C.
What Role Does The Wind Play?
Going through the biggest range of temperatures during all seasons, from summers to winters, is a very unique thing about oceans located anywhere on the planet. As we know, the amount of sunlight received by the water changes the ocean’s temperature, and the wind plays a mixer in it.
When the altitude is high, the wind stirs the sea and brings up the colder temperature from the bottom to the surface, or pushes the warmer temperature down. This combination of the sun and the wind play a huge role in the temperatures we feel at different beaches.
When talking about oceans, this particular topic always comes up. We are sure you have heard about the Atlantic and Pacific oceans running side by side but not mixing. Here is a video to explain why:
Are The Ocean Temperatures Changing Gradually?
According to research, the changes in the ocean temperatures are more tilted towards the cold pool. Oceanographers have noticed that the colder pools of the oceans are warming up over time all over the world.
The cold pool refers to the area of the sea that is 60-70 meters below the surface, where there is no ample sunlight. It is basically a pool of colder water that remains there since the winter season while just sitting and reacting to the local wind.
Now you know the reason behind cold pools warming up is the excessive heat that is being transferred to the bottom of the sea by the wind. However, at present, the oceans contain 90% of the heat from global warming that is human-induced. The year 2020 was the warmest ever that was measured for the global oceans.
