Download L. Ciasto`s presentation notes: overview - geo.uni

An Introduction to the Ocean
Geography of the Atlantic
Circulation of the Ocean
Wind Driven Currents
Thermohaline Circulation
Vertical Structure of the Ocean
Geography of the Atlantic
Greeland
Sea
Labrador
Sea
Sargasso
Sea
Iceland
Sea
North
Atlantic
South
Atlantic
Norwegian
Sea
Circulation of the Ocean
The Surface Currents
Circulation of the Ocean
Wind Driven Currents
Driven by energy transfer from wind to
surface(mixed) layers of ocean
Carries warm water north along the
western boundaries of the Altantic and
Pacific Oceans
Cooler water advected along eastern
boundary and equatorial currents
Circulation of the Ocean
Wind Driven Currents
Gyres: closed surface
currents occupying
major ocean basins
Forced by overlying
pressure systems
Subpolar
low
pressure system
Subtropical
high
pressure system
Circulation of the Ocean
Thermohaline Circulation
Global Conveyor Belt
Driven by density variations
salinity and temperature
Circulation of the Ocean
Thermohaline Circulation
Driving mechanism: deep water formation
(DWF)
Water is advected north into the Labrador and
GIN seas where its cooled
Relatively cold salty water creates unstable
surface layer and sinks
North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)
DWF occurs in North Atlantic but not North
Pacific
Vertical Profile of Ocean
Mixed(Surface) Layer: warm low-density water
Responds to annual cycle of insolation: thinnest in
summer and thickest in winter
Thermocline: layer in which temperatures
decreases greatly with depth
Deep Water Layer: cold-high density water