170 likes | 389 Views
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.
E N D
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
Wind driven surface currents Wind-drive ocean surface 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/
Thermohaline Circulation North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW 15 million m3 of near surface water descend into the deep ocean each second.
BUT – Outgoing solar radiation is not as uneven UNEQUAL HEATING OF EARTH