Ocean Circulation and Climate
What would global climate look like without an ocean? The ocean is the atmosphere’s dance partner for the net poleward energy transport in addition to a number of interesting and rich climate phenomenon. This set of lectures covers the two-way interaction between the atmosphere and ocean as well as upper and deep ocean circulation.
Readings
Key Concepts/Questions
Definitions
Web links
Abbreviated Lecture Notes
What would global climate look like without an ocean? The ocean is the atmosphere’s dance partner for the net poleward energy transport in addition to a number of interesting and rich climate phenomenon. This set of lectures covers the two-way interaction between the atmosphere and ocean as well as upper and deep ocean circulation.
Readings
- Physical Oceanography, Hartmann (1994) excerpt
- The Thermohaline Circulation, Rahmstorf (2006)
- B&H: Chapter 8
- R & V, Chapter 4
Key Concepts/Questions
- What are the different factors that drive surface ocean circulation and deep ocean circulation?
- Where is the densest surface water formed on the planet?
- Where is ocean water salty and fresh? Why does this influence climate?
- What processes lead to heating (or cooling) of surface ocean waters?
- How do ocean temperatures influence climate?
Definitions
- Thermohaline circulation
- Upwelling
- Salinity
- Ekman pumping
- Western boundary currents
Web links
Abbreviated Lecture Notes