The Pacific Ocean is the largest water reservoir in the world. It stretches from the very north of the planet to its south, reaching the shores of Antarctica. The greatest width reaches at 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 precisely on the tropics. This ocean has both warm and cold currents. It depends on which continent in one place or another the bay adjoins and which atmospheric flows form above it.
Atmospheric circulation
In many ways, the climate of the Pacific Ocean depends on the atmospheric pressure that forms above it. In this section, geographers identify five main areas. Among them there are zones of both high and low pressure. In the subtropics in both hemispheres of the planet, two high-pressure regions form over 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 atmospheric dynamics are lower in the western hemisphere than in the eastern. In the north and south of the ocean, dynamic minima are formed - the Aleutian and Antarctic, respectively. The northern one exists only in the winter season, and the southern one by its atmospheric features is stable year-round.
Wind
Such a factor as trade winds, in many respects affects the climate of the Pacific Ocean. In short, such wind currents form in the tropics and subtropics in both hemispheres. A system of trade winds has been installed there for centuries, which determines warm currents and stable hot air temperature. They are separated by a strip of equatorial calm. Styles predominate in this area, but sometimes slight slight winds occur. In the northwestern part of the ocean, monsoons are the most frequent guests. In winter, the wind blows from the Asian continent, bringing with it cold and dry air. In summer, an oceanic wind blows, which increases humidity and air temperature. 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, gusty winds.
Air temperature
In order to clearly 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 subject to 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.
Characterization of currents, their effect on temperature
Features of the climate of the Pacific Ocean are that in the same latitudes at the same time different weather can be observed. This is how it all develops because the ocean consists of various currents that bring warm or cold cyclones from the continents. So, for starters, consider the Northern Hemisphere. In the tropic strip, 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 currents of Kuroshio and the East Australian. In the east, the waters are cooled by 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 is heated thanks to the Alaskan. If we consider the Southern Hemisphere, we will not find a significant difference between the West and the East. Everything happens naturally, as trade winds and winds of high latitudes distribute the temperature above the surface of the water in the same way.
Clouds and pressure
Also, the climate of the Pacific Ocean depends on atmospheric phenomena that form over one or another of its areas. The increase in air flow 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 cloud gathers above the waters. In temperate latitudes, they are found in 80-70 percent, in the subtropics - 60-70%, in the tropics - 40-50%, and at the equator only 10 percent.
Precipitation
Now we will consider what weather conditions the Pacific Ocean is fraught with. The map of climatic zones shows that the greatest 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 condensation problems, 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 classic version, it is customary to assume that this water reservoir has three seas - the Japanese, Bering and 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 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 in it the temperature 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 summer, the seas heat up to an average of 16-20 above zero. Naturally, Okhotsk in this case will be cold - + 13-16, and the Japanese can warm 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 time of year, a certain atmospheric influence is formed over its waters, which gives rise to low or high temperatures, strong winds or sheer calm.