MSC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Thermohaline Circulation, Ocean Current, Atmospheric Circulation

• School: University of Miami
• Department: Marine Science
• Course: MSC 111
• Professor: Peterson Larry

Document Summary

2 story building analogy- 2 separate floors separated by a barrier with connections at limited places. Pycnocline separates the surface and deep ocean. Connections at high latitudes at polar regions because there is no density barrier that inhibits sinking of water. Stresses the ocean and causes it to move (surface currents) Thermohaline circulation- density differences created by the exchange of heat and moisture with the atmosphere which causes movement. Solar radiation ultimately drives movement in ocean and atmosphere. Unequal insolation (w/m2)- concentrations vary at different latitudes. 100% radiation- about half is absorbed by earth. Some fraction of infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gases: water vapor, co2, methane, no2. No atmosphere= perfect blackbody and thus has e=1. With atmosphere (1 layer)= atmosphere absorbs and emits terrestrial, but is transparent to solar. Allows water to exist in a liquid state. Because of balance between long and short wave radiation, heat accumulates at low latitudes.