WHY DO OCEANS AND

CONTINENTS HAVE DIFFERENT

THERMAL PROPERTIES?
Continents heat up and cool down more quickly than oceans.
Differences in Specific Heat.



Differences in Latent Heat Flux.




Differences in the Penetration of Radiation.



Differences in Mixing.
Differences in Specific Heat.
The quantity of energy required to raise a
fixed weight (1 Kg) of a substance (1k, 1C or 1.8F).

Differences in Latent Heat Flux.




Differences in the Penetration of Radiation.



Differences in Mixing.
Differences in Specific Heat.
The quantity of energy required to raise a
fixed weight (1 Kg) of a substance (1k, 1C or 1.8F).

Differences in Latent Heat Flux.
The proportion of insolation directed towards changing the state
of water (melting or evaporation) which does not change the
temperature of the immediate environment.
Differences in the Penetration of Radiation.




Differences in Mixing.
Differences in Specific Heat.
The quantity of energy required to raise a
fixed weight (1 Kg) of a substance (1k, 1C or 1.8F).

Differences in Latent Heat Flux.
The proportion of insolation directed towards changing the state
of water (melting or evaporation) which does not change the
temperature of the immediate environment.
Differences in the Penetration of Radiation.
The depth of a substance over which a fixed quantity of
insolation is distributed ~ Concentration/dilution.

Differences in Mixing.
Differences in Specific Heat.
The quantity of energy required to raise a
fixed weight (1 Kg) of a substance (1k, 1C or 1.8F).

Differences in Latent Heat Flux.
The proportion of insolation directed towards changing the state
of water (melting or evaporation) which does not change the
temperature of the immediate environment.
Differences in the Penetration of Radiation.
The depth of a substance over which a fixed quantity of
insolation is distributed ~ Concentration/dilution.

Differences in Mixing.
The ability of the substance to redistribute energy within itself
once the energy has been delivered.
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
O
H H
Water molecule
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
20,000 KJ
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
Water Soil
20,000 KJ
1Kg H
2
O 1Kg soil
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
Water Soil
20,000 KJ
1Kg H
2
O 1Kg soil
Specific heat:
4200 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1


2500 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1

-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
Water Soil
20,000 KJ
1Kg H
2
O 1Kg soil
T~5K
Specific heat:
4200 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1


2500 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1

20,000
4,200
-
+ +
SPECIFICIC HEAT:
- -
+
+
O
H H
Water molecule
Hydrogen bonds
Water Soil
20,000 KJ
1Kg H
2
O 1Kg soil
T~5K
T8K
Specific heat:
4200 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1


2500 KJ Kg
-1
K
-1

20,000
2,500
LATENT HEAT FLUX:
Ground Heat Ground Heat
Sensible
Heat
Sensible
Heat
Latent
Heat
Oceans Continents
Latent
Heat
LATENT HEAT FLUX:
Ground Heat Ground Heat
Sensible
Heat
Sensible
Heat
Latent
Heat
Latent
Heat
Oceans Continents
More water available
to change the state of
over oceans than
continents. Thus
proportion to Latent
Heat Flux is higher
LATENT HEAT FLUX:
Ground Heat Ground Heat
Sensible
Heat
Sensible
Heat
Latent
Heat
Latent
Heat
Oceans Continents
If a higher proportion of the
available insolation is
diverted to Latent Heat,
then a lower proportion is
available for Ground and
Sensible Heat
LATENT HEAT FLUX:
Ground Heat
Sensible
Heat
Sensible
Heat
Latent
Heat
Latent
Heat
Oceans Continents
If a higher proportion of the
available insolation is
diverted to Latent Heat,
then a lower proportion is
available for Ground and
Sensible Heat
Ground Heat
Changes in
surface and air
temperatures
No changes in
temperatures
PENETRATION OF RADIATION:
Oceans Continents
Liquid
Solid
CONTINENT OCEAN
D
e
p
t
h

D
e
p
t
h

Greater depth of
penetration in the
liquid ocean compared
to solid continents
Assume equal
Ground Heat Flux
PENETRATION OF RADIATION:
Oceans Continents
Temperature Temperature
Liquid
Solid
CONTINENT OCEAN
D
e
p
t
h

D
e
p
t
h

Equal quantities of
energy represent equal
areas heated. Oceans
deep but cool surface
continents Shallow,
but warm surface
Cool
Warm
Warm
Cooler
Coolest
MIXING:
Least Dense
Denser
Most Dense
Stable Profile
little mixing.
Warm
Cooler
Coolest
MIXING:
Wave Energy
surface mixing.
Warm
Cooler
Coolest
MIXING:
Saline Waters
more dense,
promote vertical
mixing.
Evaporation
Warm
Cooler
Coolest
MIXING:
Cool surface
waters (ice
melting) more
dense, promote
vertical mixing.
Warm
Cooler
Coolest
MIXING:
Cool surface
waters (ice
melting) more
dense, promote
vertical mixing.
No equivalent processes within the continental surfaces.