Nature magazine on Thursday published a paper on Pacific Ocean currents and their climatic implications. The study, led by a Chinese scientist, could mean better forecasting and response to extreme weather.
"Pacific western boundary currents and their roles in climate"--Pacific western boundary currents (WBCs) modulate regional and global climate--claims variations of WBCs predictably influence the largest warm water mass in the global ocean - western Pacific warm pool. Changes in the warm pool are important to the El Nino and La Nina phenomena.
The warm pool variations may affect the east Asian monsoon and the cycle of flood and drought in China by changing the circulation of the atmosphere.
Leading writer of the paper, Hu Dunxin of the Chinese Academy of Science Institute of Oceanology, suggested that the study could help China establish a climate forecasting system and combat natural disasters. (Xinhua)
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