Key Findings
♟️Scientists earlier believed rain makes the ocean’s surface more buoyant (due to freshwater being lighter)
♟️New study (Univ. of Washington, July 2025) finds light rain destabilises the ocean, but heavy rain stabilises it
Mechanism
♟️Rain in tropics often comes with cold pools (cold, dry air + clouds)
♟️These cool the surface, block sunlight & transfer heat to air
♟️Thus, heavier rain makes surface cooler and more stable
♟️Light rain (0.2–4 mm/hr) increases mixing, while heavy rain = negative buoyancy flux (surface stays more stable)
Additional Observations
♟️Rainfall at night destabilises oceans more than during the day
♟️Researchers identified:
⚜️Cold Rain Zone (W. Pacific & Indian Ocean): High heat loss
⚜️Hot Rain Zone (Central Pacific): Less heat loss
Impact on Climate
♟️Ocean mixing affects carbon, heat, nutrient transport
♟️Rainfall dynamics influence weather and climate models
♟️Study highlights risk of prediction errors due to simplistic assumptions.
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