Components of the Climate System

Atmosphere
Ocean

Biosphere
Geosphere

Image from NASA

Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation

Atmospheric Circulation
Depends on density

Ocean Surface
Circulation
Depends on the wind

Deep Ocean Circulation

Depends on density

Why is Ocean Circulation

Important?
Transport ~ 20% of
latitudinal heat
Equator to poles
Transport nutrients and
organisms
Influences weather and
climate
Influences commerce

Temperature Structure of Ocean

thermocline

Ocean Circulation

Wind
driven
surface
Wind-drive
ocean
surfacecurrents
currents

How fast? A few miles/hr (Gulf Stream off of Miami = 4.5 mph)
How much? Total water in ocean surface circulation = about 100
Amazon Rivers (20 million m3/s).

Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation

Atmospheric Circulation
Depends on density

Ocean Surface
Circulation
Depends on the wind

Deep Ocean Circulation

Depends on density

Sea Surface Temperature

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/dees/ees/climate/slides/sst_march.gif

Ocean Salinity

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/dees/ees/climate/slides/sal_march.gif
http://ingrid.ldgo.columbia.edu/

Temperature-Salinity
(density) Diagram

Thermohaline Circulation
North Atlantic
Deep Water
(NADW

15 million m3 of near surface water descend into the deep ocean each second.

Thermohaline Circulation - The Ocean Conveyor

Equatorial to polar heat transport and water flow

Ocean Atmosphere Circulation

UNEQUAL HEATING OF EARTH

BUT Outgoing solar radiation is not as uneven