Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction: How Rain Can Cool and Stabilise the Sea
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Geography (Climatology, Oceanography), Environment (Climate Change).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Salient features of world's physical geography; Important Geophysical phenomena, geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies).
GS Paper 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Disaster and disaster management.
Key Highlights from the News
When it rains in the ocean, a new study shows that the surface water does not always become more buoyant.
The previous understanding was that freshwater rainwater, being less dense than saltwater, would make the surface lighter.
However, cold pools of cold, dry air that accompany heavy rain in tropical regions cool the ocean surface.
When this cooling effect is stronger than the addition of rainwater, the surface water becomes denser and heavier. This obstructs ocean mixing.
The study states that this phenomenon is stronger in the 'cold rain zone' of the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Since ocean mixing plays a crucial role in the distribution of heat, carbon, and nutrients, this new finding will help improve the accuracy of weather and climate predictions.
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