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.
Q-Factor HISPOL Quiz-6th April 2024, Quiz Club NITW
Ocean circulation
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
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
15. UNEQUAL HEATING OF EARTH
BUT – Outgoing solar radiation is not as uneven
16. End of Report in Ocean
Circulation…
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Agricultural, Industrial and Domestic use
Hinweis der Redaktion
4 th century BC ,Pytheas of Massalia, a Greek ship captain, explored eastern Atlantic
Okeanos (Greek for “Great River”) because he found the ocean flowing south (Canary Current) and thought it was a river too wide to cross.
London = 51 deg N James Bay = 51 deg. N
Edinburgh = 55deg N, same latitude as Ontario’s Polar Bear Provincial Park
Total water in ocean surface circulation = about 100 Amazon Rivers (20 million m3/s). It requires 500-2000 years to complete cycle.
AVERAGE = 35 ppm or 3.5% denser
M&M fourth edition, solar constant = rate of solar radiation on surface perpendicular to the sun’s rays at the top of the atmosphere, 1.97 cal/cm2/min or 1372 watts/m2
Difference between perihelion (2.04 cal/me/min) vs 1.91 cal/m2/min at aphelion
1 watt/hr = 860 cal