Properties of the water masses of the Pacific Ocean briefly. Pacific Ocean precipitation distribution

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Pacific precipitation

Precipitation Pacific Ocean are distributed depending on the climatic zone, the location of baric centers, the main currents and the prevailing winds. There is also an uneven distribution of precipitation in the eastern and western Pacific. Cloudiness and precipitation during the year are greatest in areas with low atmospheric pressure and near mountain coasts, since in both areas there is a significant rise air currents.

Distribution of precipitation in the Pacific Ocean.

Along the equator is a relatively dry area.

equatorial zone- on both sides of the equator, narrow bands of maximum precipitation are observed - these are two independent zones with excessive moisture. To the east, in the equatorial and tropical zones, the amount of precipitation decreases. The largest number precipitation The Pacific Ocean falls in the equatorial-tropical trade wind convergence zone, which lies north of the equator (between 2-4 and 9 ~ 18 ° N), where intense ascending air currents saturated with moisture develop. In this zone, the amount of precipitation is more than 3000 mm.

subtropical regions. The least amount of precipitation falls on the eastern outskirts of the subtropical regions. high pressure where prevailing downward air currents and cold sea currents are unfavorable for moisture condensation. In these areas, the amount of precipitation in the Pacific Ocean is: in the Northern Hemisphere west of the California Peninsula - no more than 300, in the Southern Hemisphere west of Peru - less than 100, and in some places even less than 30 mm. In the western parts of the subtropical regions, the amount of precipitation increases to 1000-2000 mm. In the intertropical convergence zone and subtropical high pressure areas, precipitation occurs almost uniformly throughout the year.

moderate latitudes. The average annual precipitation of the Pacific Ocean in temperate latitudes is 1000 mm in the west and 2000-3000 mm in the east. In the area of ​​the Aleutian Low, as well as in the temperate and subpolar latitudes of the southern hemisphere, the frequency of precipitation increases in winter. In the monsoonal region of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the maximum precipitation occurs in the summer.

high latitudes. In the high latitudes of both hemispheres, due to weak evaporation at low temperatures, the amount of precipitation decreases to 500-300 mm in the north and 100 in the south.

Pacific Ocean clouds.

The average annual cloudiness of the Pacific Ocean in areas of low atmospheric pressure is 60-90%. high pressure - 10-30%. In temperate latitudes, cloudiness is 70-90, in the equatorial zone 60-70%, in trade wind zones and in subtropical areas of high pressure it decreases to 30-50, and in some areas in the Southern Hemisphere - up to 10%.

On a 10-point scale for assessing cloudiness (expressing the percentage of sky coverage by clouds), the Pacific Ocean zones have the following average annual indicators:

• temperate latitudes - maximum values- 7-9 points,
• Equatorial latitudes - 6-7 points,
• The zone of subtropical baric maxima - 3-5 points,
• Separate areas of the southern hemisphere - up to 1 point.

Picture. 10-point cloudiness scale.

Clouds of the Pacific Ocean.

Fogs are characteristic of the temperate latitudes of the Pacific Ocean. They are most frequent in the area adjacent to the Kuril and Aleutian Islands, in the summer season, when the water is colder than the air. The frequency of fog here is 30-40% in summer and 5-10% or less in winter. In the Southern Hemisphere in temperate latitudes, the frequency of fogs during the year is 5-10%.

Other articles related to the "Pacific Ocean":

• What is the Pacific Ocean? General characteristics and description of the Pacific Ocean.
• Pacific Ocean waters: ocean water masses, ocean temperature, ocean salinity, ice formation and Pacific water color.

The Pacific Ocean stretches over a huge area and is the deepest. It washes almost all continents globe except for Africa.

In addition, it has great historical and economic significance.

This topic is studied at school in geography lessons in the 7th grade or earlier and is necessarily found in exam tests. Therefore, let us once again recall all the main things that characterize the Pacific Ocean.

Research History

It is believed that the conqueror Nunez de Balboa, who first saw the coast, discovered the Pacific Ocean. The first travels on the waters were carried out on rafts and canoes. The researchers on the Kon-Tiki raft even managed to cross uncharted waters.

It is interesting to know why the Pacific Ocean was called the Pacific. During the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan through its waters, not a single storm occurred in a little less than 4 months, the water surface was absolutely calm all the time of the trip.

In honor of this, the name appeared, translated into English as the Pacific ocean.

Characteristics of the largest ocean

The area of ​​the Pacific Ocean is 178.68 million km², it includes 28 seas, including the Yellow, Bering, and Okhotsk.

Surprisingly, it occupies almost half the area of ​​the entire World Ocean (49.5%), exceeds half the volume of all water on Earth by 3%, which is why it is deservedly considered the largest.

Located in the Pacific Ocean Mariana Trench, in which and there are maximum depth among the known - 11022 m. Average depth - 3984 m.

Salinity of water in middle lane varies from 34 to 36%, in the north it can reach 1%.

Geographical position

The Pacific Ocean occupies 1/3 of the globe. From the east it washes the South and North America(their western coasts), from the west it touches the eastern coasts of Eurasia, Australia and Antarctica.

Border with the North Arctic Ocean It is caused only by the Bering Strait, which lies between the coasts of Eurasia and North America.

currents

There are 7 cold currents in the Pacific Ocean, the main ones are: the South trade wind current, the North Pacific current, the Cromwell current, the Alaska and the Inter trade wind countercurrent. There are only 3 warm ones: Californian, Peruvian and current westerly winds.

Currents of the Pacific Ocean

In the region of Eurasia, monsoons blow on the coastal regions, especially in summer. At the equator sea ​​current have an active influence of the trade winds.

Falls west of the equator a large number of precipitation, on average 1500-2500 mm. In the east, precipitation is extremely rare, insignificant.

Seas

The area of ​​the seas included in the composition is almost 20% of the total.

Bering Sea

It includes 27 seas, most of which are located along the coasts of Eurasia.

coral sea

The largest historical and economic importance have: Bering, Coral, Japanese, Okhotsk, Tasmanovo and Philippine.

Climate and climatic zones

Because of large area The Pacific Ocean is located in all climatic zones. At the equator, the temperature can reach 24 0 C, while off the coast of Antarctica it drops to 0 and deforms into ice.

In the southern hemisphere strong influence have trade winds - winds that in the data climatic conditions cause great amount typhoons and tsunamis.

Inhabitants of the Pacific

There are about 4,000 species of fish in the Pacific Ocean.

The list below briefly lists the most famous and abundant species found there:

It is believed that the big ocean and the richest aquatic life. This was influenced not only by its length through all climatic zones, but by the diverse bottom relief and favorable temperature.

Islands and peninsulas

Most of the islands were formed as a result of volcanic eruptions and shift tectonic plates.

Islands New Guinea

Total on the territory ocean waters there are more than ten thousand islands, among which the second largest about. New Guinea - 829,000 km², in third place is about. Kalimantan - 736,000 km², the largest group of islands, the Greater Sunda Islands, is also located here.

Solomon islands

Of the most famous islands there are: Kuril, Philippine, Solomon, Galapagos.

Peninsula California

Among the singles, Sakhalin, Taiwan, Sumatra can be distinguished. California, Alaska, Kamchatka and Indochina are peninsulas that wash the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

gulfs

The ocean has only 3 large bays, 2 are located in the north (Shelikhov, Alaska).

Shelikhov Bay - a bay of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk between the coast of Asia and the base of the Kamchatka Peninsula

The Shelikhov Gulf is part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and there are several large ports in the Gulf of Alaska.

gulf of california

The Gulf of California washes the shores of the California Peninsula, it contains 2 large islands.

Features of nature

Main natural features and the characteristics of the ocean are its area and depth.

The Pacific Ring of Fire is one of the most active seismic zones in the world. earth's crust. It got its name from the fact that a long chain of volcanoes stretched along the entire coast of the Pacific Ocean.

In its waters there is an exceptionally rare a natural phenomenon- Fire ball. Hidden in the depths huge reserves heat, thanks to which the richest flora and fauna appeared.

Bottom relief

At the bottom of the ocean there are many volcanoes of various sizes, some of which are still active. Also there you can find underwater basins (sometimes quite big size), which are also called pools, as they resemble them in structure.

The relief of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

One more feature bottom relief can be called depressions, sometimes reaching several tens of meters in depth. At much greater depths, flat seamounts are found in abundance.

The bottom relief is also different in that it is subject to constant changes due to the shift of tectonic plates and the eruption of underwater volcanoes.

Coastline

The coastline is slightly indented, it includes only 3 large bays and several peninsulas.

For the most part from the North and South America coastline flat, but it is inconvenient for navigation. mountain ranges occupy a significant part of the coast, while the bays and harbors formed by naturally, very little.

Minerals

In the bowels of the ocean, according to scientists, there is about 1/3 of the world's oil reserves, in fact, therefore, there is an active extraction of it, as well as gas.

The shelves are rich in various minerals, ore, copper and nickel sources (the reserves are approximately equal to several billion tons). An abundant source has recently been found natural gases, which is already being mined.

The most curious of them:

Environmental Issues in the Pacific

Man has spent years the richest resources Pacific Ocean, which led to their significant impoverishment.

And numerous trade routes and mining have affected the environment and caused severe water pollution, which also had a detrimental effect on flora and fauna.

Economic importance

More than half of the world's catch comes from the Pacific Ocean. Surprisingly, most transport routes also run through the territory of its waters.

Transport routes carry out not only the transportation of passengers, but also the transportation of minerals, resources (industrial, food).

Conclusion

The Pacific Ocean is a huge source natural resources. He plays important role in the global economy and ecology of the Earth. However, excessive use of its resources can lead to the depletion of natural resources and pollution of the largest water basin on Earth.

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What is the Pacific Ocean? General characteristics and description of the Pacific Ocean.

What is the Pacific Ocean? General characteristics of the Pacific Ocean. Table.

ocean name	Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean area:
With the seas	178.684 million km²
Without seas	165.2 million km²
Average depth of the Pacific Ocean:
With the seas
Without seas
Greatest depth	10,994 m (Marian Trench)
The volume of water in the Pacific Ocean:
With the seas	710.36 million km3
Without seas	707.6 million km3
average temperature
Salinity
Width from west to east - from Panama to the east coast of Mindanao
Length from north to south, from the Bering Strait to Antarctica
Number of islands
Animals (number of species)	over 100,000
Incl. fish species
Incl. shellfish species
seaweed species

What is the Pacific Ocean? Description of the Pacific.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on our planet occupying almost a third of it. It accounts for 49.5% of the surface area of ​​the World Ocean and 53% of its water volume. The width of the ocean from west to east is 17,200 km, and the length from north to south is 15,450 km. The area of ​​the Pacific Ocean is 30 million square kilometers larger than the entire land area of ​​the Earth.

The Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean on our planet.. Its average depth is 3984 meters, and the greatest is 10,994 km (the Mariana Trench or the "Challenger Abyss").

The Pacific Ocean is the most warm ocean our planet. Most of The ocean lies in warm latitudes, so the average temperature of its waters (19.37 ° C) is two degrees higher than the temperature of other oceans (with the exception of the Arctic Ocean).

Pacific Coast- the most densely populated territory of the Earth, here in 50 states lives about half of the population of our planet.

The Pacific Ocean has the greatest commercial value of all the water bodies of the planet - about 60% of the world's fish catch is produced here.

The Pacific Ocean has the largest reserves of hydrocarbons in the entire World Ocean - about 40% of all potential oil and gas reserves are located here.

The Pacific Ocean has the richest flora and fauna- almost 50% of all living organisms of the World Ocean live here.

The Pacific Ocean is the most "violent" ocean on the planet- more than 80% of the tsunami is "born" here. The reason for this is the large number of underwater volcanoes.

The Pacific Ocean has a huge transport value - the most important transport routes pass here.

The opening of the Pacific. Why is the ocean "Pacific"?

Why is the Pacific Ocean called "Pacific"? After all, this is the most formidable of all the oceans of the Earth: 80% of the tsunami originates here, the ocean is replete with underwater volcanoes, and is famous for catastrophic hurricanes and storms. Just ironically, the first European explorer and discoverer of the Pacific Ocean, Ferdinand Magellan, during his three-month voyage, never got into a storm. The ocean was quiet and gentle, for which it received its current name - "Quiet".

By the way, Magellan was not the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. The first was the Spaniard Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who explored New World. He crossed the American continent and came out on the coast as he thought of the sea. He did not yet know that before him was the greatest ocean of the Earth and gave it the name of the South Sea.

Borders and climate of the Pacific Ocean. What is the Pacific Ocean?

With land:

Western border of the Pacific Ocean: off the eastern coasts of Australia and Eurasia.

Eastern border of the Pacific Ocean: off the western coasts of South and North America.

Northern border of the Pacific Ocean: almost completely enclosed by land - Russian Chukotka and American Alaska.

South Pacific Ocean: off the northern coast of Antarctica.

Pacific borders. Map.

With other oceans:

Border of the Pacific Ocean with the Arctic Ocean: the border is drawn in the Bering Strait from Cape Dezhnev to Cape Prince of Wales.

The border of the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean: the boundary is drawn from Cape Horn along the meridian 68°04’ (67?) W. d. or by shortest distance from South America to the Antarctic Peninsula through the Drake Passage, from Oste Island to Cape Sternek.

The border of the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean:

- south of Australia - on eastern border Bass Strait to the island of Tasmania, further along the meridian 146 ° 55 'E. to Antarctica;

- North of Australia- between the Andaman Sea and the Strait of Malacca, further along the southwestern coast of the island of Sumatra, the Sunda Strait, the southern coast of the island of Java, southern borders the Bali and Savu seas, the northern border of the Arafura Sea, the southwestern coast of New Guinea and the western border of the Torres Strait.

Climate of the Pacific. General characteristics and description of the Pacific Ocean.

The climate of the Pacific Ocean in parts.

The South Pacific Ocean is the coldest, as the water comes close to the shores of Antarctica. Here, in winter, the water is covered with ice.

The climate of the North Pacific Ocean is much milder. This is influenced by the fact that the Pacific Ocean from the north has practically no contact with the cold Arctic Ocean, but is limited by land.

The western part of the Pacific Ocean is warmer than the eastern part.

In the tropical latitudes of the ocean, powerful hurricanes - typhoons - are born.

There are two zones of typhoon origin:

• east of the Philippines - the typhoon is moving northwest and north through Taiwan, Japan and almost reaches the Bering Strait.
• off the coast of Central America.

The amount of precipitation is uneven over the surface of the planet's largest ocean.

• The greatest amount of precipitation (more than 2000 mm per year) is characteristic of the equatorial belt,
• The least amount of precipitation (less than 50 mm per year) is in the northern hemisphere off the coast of California, in the southern hemisphere off the coast of Chile and Peru.

Precipitation in the ocean, in general, prevails over evaporation, so the salinity of the water is somewhat lower than in other oceans.

Read more about the climate of the Pacific Ocean in the articles:

• Climate of the Pacific. Cyclones and anticyclones. baric centers.

Flora, fauna and economic importance of the Pacific Ocean. What is the Pacific Ocean?

The flora and fauna of the Pacific Ocean is extremely diverse. About half of the living organisms of the entire oceans live here. This is explained huge size the largest ocean on the planet and a variety of natural conditions.

The largest number of species lives in tropical and equatorial latitudes, in northern and temperate latitudes. species diversity poorer, but here more strength individuals of each species. For example, about 50 species of seaweed are found in the cold waters of the Bering Sea, and about 800 species are found in the warm waters of the Malay Archipelago. But the mass of algae in the Bering Sea is much larger total weight aquatic plants of the Malay Archipelago.

The depths of the Pacific Ocean are also not lifeless. The animals that live here have an unusual body structure, many of them fluoresce, emitting light as a result chemical reactions. This device is used to scare off predators and attract prey.

In the Pacific Ocean lives:

• more than 850 types of algae;
• more than 100 thousand species of animals (of which over 3800 species of fish);
• more than 6 thousand species of mollusks;
• about 200 species of animals living at a depth of more than 7 thousand km;
• 20 species of animals living at a depth of more than 10 thousand km.

The economic importance of the Pacific Ocean - a general characteristic and description of the Pacific Ocean.

The coast of the Pacific Ocean, its islands and seas are developed extremely unevenly. The most developed industrial centers are coast of the USA, Japan and South Korea. The economy of Australia and New Zealand is also largely associated with the development of the largest ocean on the planet.

The Pacific Ocean plays an important role in human life. as food. It accounts for up to 60% of the world's fish catch. Commercial fishing is especially developed in tropical and temperate latitudes.

Across the Pacific important sea and air communications run between the countries of the Pacific basin and transit routes between the countries of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Great economic importance of the Pacific Ocean and in terms of mining. Up to 40% of the potential oil and gas reserves of the World Ocean are located here. Hydrocarbons are currently being produced offshore in China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the United States of America (Alaska), Ecuador (Guayaquil Bay), Australia (Bass Strait) and New Zealand.

The Pacific Ocean also plays a very specific role in modern world: here in the southern part of the ocean there is a "cemetery" of failed spaceships.

The relief of the bottom, the sea and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. What is the Pacific Ocean?

The relief of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean - a description and general characteristics of the Pacific Ocean.

The bottom of the planet's largest ocean also has the most difficult terrain.. At the base of the ocean is the Pacific Plate. The plates adjoin it: Nazca, Cocos, Juan de Fuca, Philippine, in the south - the Antarctic plate, and in the north - the North American. Such a large number lithospheric plates leads to strong tectonic activity in the region.

At the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, along the edges of the Pacific Plate, is the so-called "ring of fire" of the planet. Earthquakes constantly occur here, volcanoes erupt, tsunamis are born.

"Ring of Fire" of the planet.

The bottom of the Pacific Ocean is literally strewn single mountains volcanic origin. On the this moment there are about 10,000 of them.

In addition, there is a complex submarine mountain range system, the longest of which is located in the south and east of the ocean - this is the East Pacific Rise, which passes in the south into the South Pacific Ridge. This underwater ridge divides the Pacific Ocean into two asymmetrical parts - the vast western one, dominated by warm currents, and a small eastern one, where the cold Peruvian Current dominates.

Countless islands and archipelagos, formed as a result of volcanic activity, are combined into a separate part of the world - Oceania.

The largest basins of the Pacific Ocean are: Chilean, Peruvian, Northwestern, Southern, Eastern, Central.

Pacific Ocean seas and coastline. What is the Pacific Ocean?

Almost all the seas of the Pacific Ocean are located on its northern and western outskirts - off the coast of Asia, Australia, the Malay Archipelago. In the east of the ocean there are neither large islands nor bays protruding deep into the land - the coastline is smooth. The exception is the Gulf of California - a semi-enclosed sea of ​​the Pacific Ocean. Off the coast of Antarctica is the only southern marginal sea of ​​this ocean - the Ross Sea.

Islands of the Pacific.

In this article, we reviewed the description and general characteristics of the Pacific Ocean, gave an answer to the question: What is the Pacific Ocean? Read further: Pacific Ocean waters: ocean water masses, ocean temperature, ocean salinity, ice formation and Pacific water color.

Deviations in the location and local differences within them are caused by the characteristics of the underlying surface (warm and cold currents) and the degree of influence of the adjacent continents with the circulation developing above them.

The main features over the Pacific Ocean are defined by five areas of high and low pressure. In the subtropical latitudes of both hemispheres over the Pacific Ocean, two dynamic high-pressure areas are constant - the North Pacific, or Hawaiian, and South Pacific maxima, the centers of which are located in the eastern part of the ocean. In equatorial latitudes, these regions are separated by a constant dynamic region of low pressure, which is more strongly developed in the west. To the north and south of the subtropical maxima at higher latitudes there are two minima - the Aleutian with a center over the Aleutian Islands and , elongated from east to west, in the Antarctic zone. The first exists only in winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the second - throughout the year.

Subtropical maxima determine the existence of a stable system of trade winds in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Pacific Ocean, which consists of a northeast trade wind in the Northern Hemisphere and a southeast trade wind in the Southern Hemisphere. The trade wind zones are separated by an equatorial calm zone, in which weak and unstable winds predominate with a high frequency of calms.

The Northwest Pacific is a pronounced monsoon region. In winter, the northwest monsoon dominates here, bringing cold and dry air from the Asian mainland, in summer - the southeast monsoon, carrying warm and humid air from the ocean. Monsoons disrupt the trade wind circulation and lead to the flow of air from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere in winter, and in the opposite direction in summer.

Permanent winds are strongest in temperate latitudes and especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The frequency of storms in the Northern Hemisphere in temperate latitudes ranges from 5% in summer to 30% in winter. In tropical latitudes, constant winds reach storm strength extremely rarely, but sometimes tropical winds pass here. Most often they occur in the warm half of the year in the Western Pacific. In the Northern Hemisphere, typhoons are directed mainly from the area lying to the east and northwest, to, in the Southern - from the region of the islands of New Hebrides and Samoa to. In the eastern part of the ocean, typhoons are rare and occur only in the Northern Hemisphere.

The distribution of air is subject to the general latitudinal. The average temperature in February decreases from + 26 -I- 28 "C in the equatorial zone to - 20 ° C in the strait. The average August temperature varies from + 26 - + 28 °C in the equatorial zone to + 5 °C in the strait.

The pattern of temperature decrease from to high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere is disturbed under the influence of warm and cold currents and winds. In this regard, there are large differences between the temperature in the east and west at the same latitudes. With the exception of the area adjacent to Asia (mainly the area marginal seas), in almost the entire zone of the tropics and subtropics, i.e., within most of the ocean, the west is several degrees warmer than the east. This difference is due to the fact that in this belt the western part of the Pacific Ocean is warmed by the trade winds (Kuroshio and East Australian) and their, while East End cooled by the California and Peruvian currents. In the Northern Hemisphere, on the contrary, the west is colder than the east in all seasons. The difference reaches 10-12 ° and is mainly due to the fact that here the western part of the Pacific Ocean is cooled by cold, and the eastern part is heated by the warm Alaska current. In temperate and high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, under the influence of westerly winds and the predominance of winds with a westerly component in all seasons, temperature changes occur naturally and there is no significant difference between east and west.

And precipitation during the year is greatest in areas with lowered and near mountainous coasts, since in both areas there is a significant rise in air currents. In temperate latitudes, cloudiness is 70-90, in the equatorial zone 60-70%, in trade wind zones and in subtropical areas of high pressure it decreases to 30-50, and in some areas in the Southern Hemisphere - up to 10%.

The largest falls in the zone where the trade winds meet, lying to the north of the equator (between 2-4 and 9 ~ 18 ° N), where intense upward currents of moisture-rich air develop. In this zone, the amount of precipitation is more than 3000 mm. In temperate latitudes, the amount of precipitation increases from 1000 mm in the west to 2000-3000 mm or more in the east.

The least amount of precipitation falls on the eastern outskirts of the subtropical high pressure areas, where the prevailing downward air currents and cold ones are unfavorable for moisture condensation. In these areas, the amount of precipitation is: in the Northern Hemisphere west of the California Peninsula - less than 200, in the Southern Hemisphere west of - less than 100, and at some points even less than 30 mm. In the western parts of the subtropical regions, the amount of precipitation increases to 1500-2000 mm. In the high latitudes of both hemispheres, due to weak evaporation at low temperatures, the amount of precipitation decreases to 500-300 mm or less.

In the Pacific Ocean, fogs form mainly in temperate latitudes. They are most frequent in the area adjacent to the Kuril and Aleutian, in the summer season, when the water is colder than the air. The frequency here is 30-40% in summer, 5-10% or less in winter. In the Southern Hemisphere in temperate latitudes, the frequency of fogs during the year is 5-10%.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water in the world. It stretches from the very north of the planet to its south, reaching the shores of Antarctica. It reaches its greatest width at the equator, in the tropical and subtropical zones. Therefore, the climate of the Pacific Ocean is more defined as warm, because most of it falls on the tropics. In this ocean, there are both warm and warm. It depends on which continent the bay adjoins in one place or another and what atmospheric flows are formed above it.

atmospheric circulation

In many ways, the climate of the Pacific Ocean 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, two areas of high pressure are formed above the ocean. 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 atmospheric dynamics is lower than in the east. In the north and south of the ocean, dynamic lows are formed - the Aleutian and the Antarctic, respectively. Northern exists only in winter time of the year, and the southern one is stable all year round in terms of its atmospheric features.

Winds

Such a factor as the trade winds largely affects the climate of the Pacific Ocean. In short, such wind currents are formed in the tropics and subtropics in both hemispheres. A system of trade winds has been established there for centuries, which also determine a stable hot air temperature. They are separated by a strip of equatorial calm. Calms prevail in this area, but light winds occasionally occur. In the northwestern part of the ocean, monsoons are the most frequent guests. In winter, the wind blows from the Asian continent, bringing cold and dry air with it. In summer, the ocean wind blows, which increases the humidity and temperature of the air. The temperate climate zone, 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, and gusty winds.

Air temperature

In order to visually understand what temperatures the Pacific Ocean 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, icy, passing through the equator and ending with the southern, also icy. Above the surface of the entire reservoir, the climate is subordinated latitudinal zonality and winds that bring hot or cold temperatures to certain regions. In equatorial latitudes, the thermometer shows from 20 to 28 degrees in August, approximately 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 influence on temperature

The peculiarities of the climate of the Pacific Ocean are that in the same latitudes at the same time different weather can be observed. Everything works out this way because the ocean consists of various currents that bring warm or cold cyclones here from the continents. So, to begin with, consider In the tropics, the western part of the reservoir is always warmer than the eastern. This is due to the fact that in the west the waters are warmed by the trade winds and the Kuroshio and East Australian currents. In the east, the waters are cooled by the Peruvian and California currents. In the temperate zone, on the contrary, the east is warmer than the west. Here the western part is cooled by the Kuril current, and the eastern part is heated by the Alaska current. If we consider Southern Hemisphere, then we will not find a significant difference between the West and the East. Everything happens naturally here, since the trade winds and winds of high latitudes distribute the temperature over the surface of the water in the same way.

Clouds and pressure

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

Precipitation

Now let's look at what weather harbors the Pacific Ocean. belts shows that highest humidity here falls on the tropical and subtropical zones, which are located north of the equator. Here the amount of precipitation is equal to 3000 mm. In temperate latitudes, this figure 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, due to 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.

The climate of the Pacific Ocean

In the classical version, it is customary to believe that this water reservoir has three seas - the Sea of ​​Japan, the Bering Sea and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. These reservoirs are separated from the main reservoir by islands or peninsulas, they are adjacent to the continents and belong to countries, in this case Russia. Their climate is determined by the interaction of 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 are in the north. Here the thermometer can show below -30 degrees. In summer, the seas heat up to an average of 16-20 above zero. Naturally, the Okhotsk in this case will be cold - +13-16, and the Japanese one can warm up to +30 or more.

Conclusion

The Pacific Ocean, which is, in fact, the largest geographical feature planet is characterized by a very diverse climate. Regardless of the time of year, a certain atmospheric influence, which generates low or high temperatures, strong winds or utter calm.