The ocean plays an important role in shaping our climate and weather patterns. Warm ocean waters provide the energy to fuel storm systems that provide fresh water vital to all living things. Understanding and predicting precipitation is critical to farmers who decide which crops to plant, and how deep, based in part on soil moisture levels. Crop and food prices may increase when weather that is too wet or too dry adversely affects crops. Like precipitation, extreme heat and cold also affect livestock management.
Weather prediction can be a life-saving tool.
Aside from helping people prepare for catastrophic storms, it can help citizens and governments anticipate extreme hot and cold temperatures, which may cause death among the elderly. Water management experts study how much rainfall to anticipate so they can manage reservoir levels and water usage, to ensure everyone has abundant water supplies. The National Weather Service and NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research employs a network of buoys placed in the ocean and along coastlines to measure temperature, currents and winds. Ships and aircraft also provide important oceanographic data. Always heed NOAA's National Weather Service warnings and advisories.