TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OCEAN WATER

                               TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OCEAN WATER    

HOW IS THE TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OCEAN WATER?

The following factors affect the temperature distribution of the ocean water:

1. Latitude
2. Unequal distribution of land and water
3. Prevailing Winds
4. Ocean Current
5. Enclosed sea

LATITUDE

• The amount of Insolation gets decreases from the equator to the poles
• Thus, the temperature of surface water decreases also.

UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF LAND AND WATER

• Water gets heat indirectly from land.
• Northern hemisphere water is warmer than southern hemisphere.

PREVAILING WINDS

• Winds blowing from land to ocean water drive warm water away from the coast.
• It leads to the upwelling of water.

OCEAN CURRENT

• Warm ocean current increases the temperature in cold areas.
• Cold ocean currents decrease the temperature in warm areas.

ENCLOSED SEA

• In the lower latitude, the Enclosed Sea has a relatively higher temperature than the open sea.
• In the higher latitude, the Enclosed Sea has lower temperatures than the open sea.

WHAT IS HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE OCEAN TEMPERATURE?

• The average temperature of tropical water is around 27 degrees C.
• The gradual decrease of temperature from the equator to the poles.
• The northern hemisphere ocean has relatively more temperature than Southern Ocean waters due to more land.

WHAT IS VERTICAL TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION OF OCEANS

• This can be shown as the temperature-depth profile.
• The photic zone (extends from the upper surface to ~200 m) receives adequate solar insolation.
• Aphotic zone (extends from 200 m to the ocean bottom) does not receive adequate sunrays.