The Ocean in Motion:
Circulation, Mixing and Climate
Global climate on Earth is dependent on the interconnected atmosphere-ocean system. Together ocean and atmosphere transport solar energy around the globe, regulating and stabilizing the Earth’s temperature. The world’s oceans dominate this energy transport, having a large influence on the climate across the globe. On Friday, I will discuss the energy transport within this system and develop a sense of both the theory and observations of oceanic circulation and mixing. Once we have a framework for the ocean system we will address the impacts of a changing climate, and the possibility of rapid climate change.