How the Ocean Drives the Weather — and Why Forecasts Save Lives

The ocean has a hand in the weather far inland. It plays a leading role in shaping climate and weather: warm ocean water supplies the energy that fuels storm systems — and those storms deliver the fresh water that every living thing needs.

Hurricane Gustav, one of a series of hurricanes that struck the United States in 2008. Hurricanes form over tropical ocean where high humidity, light winds and warm sea surface temperatures come together. Credit: NOAA.

Why predicting it matters

Because so much weather depends on the ocean, understanding the ocean is part of predicting the weather, and those predictions touch daily life in many ways:

• Farming. Farmers decide which crops to plant, and how deep, based partly on soil moisture, so understanding and predicting rainfall is critical. When weather is too wet or too dry for crops, crop and food prices can rise.
• Livestock. Like rainfall, extreme heat and cold affect how livestock are managed.
• Water supply. Water managers estimate how much rain to expect so they can manage reservoir levels and water use and keep supplies plentiful.

A life-saving tool

Weather prediction can save lives. Beyond helping people prepare for catastrophic storms, it lets people and governments get ready for extreme heat and cold, which can be deadly for the elderly.

Sources

Based on "What role does the ocean play in the weather?" from NOAA's National Ocean Service, a work of the United States government in the public domain.