The climate of the Pacific Ocean. Features of the climate of the Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest water reservoir in the world. It stretches from the north of the planet to its south, reaching the shores of Antarctica. The greatest width reaches the equator, in the tropical and subtropical zone. Because the climate of the Pacific Ocean is more defined as warm, because most of it falls to the tropics. In this ocean there are both warm and cold currents. It depends on which mainland the bay is in at one point or another and the atmospheric currents that form above it.

Atmospheric circulation

In many respects, the climate of the Pacific depends on atmospheric pressure, which is formed above it. In this section, geographers distinguish five main areas. Among them there are zones of both high and low pressure. In the subtropics in both hemispheres of the planet over the ocean, two high-pressure regions are formed. They are called the North Pacific or Hawaiian high and the South Pacific high. The closer to the equator, the lower the pressure becomes. Also note that in the western hemisphere the atmospheric dynamics is lower than in the eastern hemisphere . In the north and the south of the ocean dynamic lows are formed - the Aleutian and Antarctic respectively. The northern one exists only in the winter season, while the southern one is stable all year round in its atmospheric features.

Winds

This factor, like the trade winds, in many respects affects the climate of the Pacific Ocean. Briefly, such wind currents are formed in the tropics and subtropics in both hemispheres. There has been a system of trade winds for centuries, which cause warm currents and a stable hot air temperature. They are separated by a strip of equatorial calm. In this area, the stitches predominate, but sometimes light minor winds occur. In the northwestern part of the ocean, monsoons are the most frequent visitors. In winter, the wind blows from the Asian continent, bringing with it cold and dry air. In summer, the ocean wind blows, which increases the humidity and air temperature. Moderate climatic belt, as well as the entire southern hemisphere, starting from the subtropical climate, is subject to strong winds. The climate of the Pacific Ocean in these areas is characterized by typhoons, hurricanes, gusty winds.

Air temperature

In order to clearly understand what temperatures the Pacific is characterized by, the map will come to our aid. We see that this reservoir is located in all climatic zones, starting from the northern, ice, passing through the equator and ending with the southern, also ice. Above the surface of the entire reservoir, the climate is subject to latitudinal zonality and winds, which bring hot or cold temperatures to certain regions. At equatorial latitudes the thermometer shows from 20 to 28 degrees in August, about the same indicators are observed in February. In temperate latitudes February temperatures reach -25 Celsius, and in August the thermometer rises to +20.

Characteristics of currents, their effect on temperature

The peculiarities of the climate of the Pacific Ocean lie in the fact that in different latitudes, different weather can be observed at the same time. So everything develops because the ocean consists of different currents, which from the continents bring here warm or cold cyclones. So, first, let's look at the Northern Hemisphere. In the tropics, the western part of the reservoir is always warmer than the eastern part. This is due to the fact that in the west the waters are warmed by the trade winds and currents of Kuroshio and East Australian. In the east, the waters are cooled by the Peruvian and California currents. In the zone of temperate climate, on the contrary, the east is warmer than the west. Here the western part is cooled by the Kurile Current, and the eastern part is heated by the Alaskan. If we consider the Southern Hemisphere, then there is no significant difference between the West and the East. Here everything happens naturally, since the trade winds and winds of high latitudes distribute the temperature above the water surface in the same way.

Clouds and pressure

Also, the climate of the Pacific depends on atmospheric phenomena that form over one or another of its areas. Lifting of air currents is observed in low pressure zones, as well as in coastal areas where there is a mountainous terrain. The closer to the equator, the less it gathers over the waters of the clouds. In temperate latitudes they are contained in 80-70 percent, in the subtropics - 60-70 percent, in the tropics - 40-50 percent, and at the equator only 10 percent.

Precipitation

Now let's look at the weather conditions in the Pacific Ocean. The map of the climatic zones shows that the greatest humidity here falls on the tropical and subtropical zones, which are north of the equator. Here the amount of precipitation is equal to 3000 mm. In temperate latitudes this indicator is reduced to 1000-2000 mm. Also note that in the West the climate is always drier than in the East. The most arid region of the ocean is the coastal zone near the California peninsula and off the coast of Peru. Here, because of problems with condensation, the amount of precipitation is reduced to 300-200 mm. In some areas it is extremely low and is only 30 mm.

Climate of the Pacific Seas

In the classical version, it is commonly assumed that this water reservoir has three seas - the Japanese, the Bering and the Okhotsk. These water bodies are separated from the main reservoir by islands or peninsulas, they adjoin the continents and belong to countries, in this case Russia. Their climate is determined by the interaction of the ocean and land. On average, the temperature above the water surface in February is about 15-20 below zero, in the coastal zone - 4 below zero. The Sea of Japan is the warmest, because the temperature in it is kept within +5 degrees. The most severe winters take place in the north of the Sea of Okhotsk. Here the thermometer can show below -30 degrees. In the summer, the sea warms to an average of 16-20 above zero. Naturally, Okhotsk in this case will be cold - + 13-16, and the Japanese can heat up to +30 or more.

Conclusion

The Pacific Ocean, which is, in fact, the largest geographical object of the planet, is characterized by a very diverse climate. Regardless of the season, a certain atmospheric influence is formed over its waters, which generates low or high temperatures, strong winds or complete stitches.