The Air-Sea Connection
How the atmosphere and the sea are connected?
Gases in the Atmosphere
- Nitrogen (78%)
- Oxygen (21%)
- Other Gases (1%)
Gases in the Ocean
The atmosphere isn't the only thing with gases. The ocean has dissolved gases.
Gases in the Ocean
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
How are they connected?
Rain!
- Water evaporates from the ocean
- Water is now a gas so it floats upwards
- The clouds in the atmosphere collect the water
- Water cools down and become liquid and rains down to land
- The water eventually makes it's was to the ocean
- REPEAT
What does El Niño year mean?
El Niño is a name given to a periodical warming of equatorial ocean water. It disrupts weather and causes all kinds of havoc—from droughts to floods and landslides.