The document summarizes key components of the climate system including the atmosphere, ocean, biosphere and geosphere. It describes how atmospheric and ocean circulation are driven by factors like density, wind, and temperature/salinity. Ocean circulation plays an important role in transporting heat from the equator to poles, distributing nutrients and organisms, and influencing weather, climate, and commerce. Deep ocean circulation, known as thermohaline circulation, involves near-surface water descending into deep ocean currents and transports heat globally.

1. Components of the Climate System
• Atmosphere
• Ocean
• Biosphere
• Geosphere
Image from NASA

2. Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation
• Atmospheric Circulation
– Depends on density
• Ocean Surface
Circulation
– Depends on the wind
• Deep Ocean Circulation
– Depends on density

3. Why is Ocean Circulation
Important?
• Transport ~ 20% of
latitudinal heat
– Equator to poles
• Transport nutrients and
organisms
• Influences weather and
climate
• Influences commerce

4. Temperature Structure of Ocean
thermocline

5. Ocean Circulation

6. 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).

7. Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation
• Atmospheric Circulation
– Depends on density
• Ocean Surface
Circulation
– Depends on the wind
• Deep Ocean Circulation
– Depends on density

8. Sea Surface Temperature
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/dees/ees/climate/slides/sst_march.gif

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

10. Temperature-Salinity
(density) Diagram

11. Thermohaline Circulation
North Atlantic
Deep Water
(NADW
15 million m3 of near surface water descend into the deep ocean each second.

12. Thermohaline Circulation - The Ocean Conveyor

13. Equatorial to polar heat transport and water flow

14. Ocean – Atmosphere Circulation

15. UNEQUAL HEATING OF EARTH
BUT – Outgoing solar radiation is not as uneven

16. End of Report in Ocean
Circulation…
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