1 River Discharge Stream Animation

2 Surface Currents

3 Florida Current (northward flowing) (cross sections of T, S and velocity)

4 Solar Insolation at Earth’s Surface (Watts/m 2 )

5 Ocean Heat Transport

6 Effect of Heat Transport on Ocean’s SST Higher SSTs off Europe than eastern US at same latitudes and similar effect in N. Pacific.

7 Surface Air Temperatures (ºC = ºK – 273)

8 Photosynthesis 106CO HNO 3 + 1H 3 PO H 2 O + energy → (CH 2 O) 106 (NH 3 ) 16 (H 3 PO 4 ) +138O 2 Energy from sunlight is needed for this reaction to occur (top ~150m only- called photic layer) Essential nutrients are carbon [C], nitrogen [N] and phosphorous [P], which take the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrate (NO 3 ) and phosphate (PO 4 ) are consumed during photosynthesis. Micronutrients (like iron, vitamins) also needed. Organic Compound = (CH 2 O) 106 (NH3) 16 (H 3 PO 4 )

9 Respiration (CH 2 O) 106 (NH 3 ) 16 (H 3 PO 4 ) + 138O 2 → 106CO HNO 3 + 1H 3 PO H 2 O + energy Respiration is the reverse of photosynthesis. Respiration generates energy by the combustion (reaction with O 2 ) of organic compounds. Essential nutrients in the form of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), nitrate (NO 3 ) and phosphate (PO 4 ) are produced during respiration. Oxygen (O 2 ) is consumed during respiration.

10 Nutrient and Oxygen Depth Profiles Nitrate increases and while O 2 decreases with depth. Why?

11 Reservoirs and Fluxes = 0 (stoppered)

12 SST Change between Jan and July (ºC)

13 Heating Effect of Greenhouse Gases Estimate of the Earth’s annual and global mean energy balance. Over the long term, the amount of incoming solar radiation absorbed by the Earth and atmosphere is balanced by the Earth and atmosphere releasing the same amount of outgoing longwave radiation. About half of the incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface. This energy is transferred to the atmosphere by warming the air in contact with the surface, by evapotranspiration and by longwave radiation that is absorbed by clouds and greenhouse gases. The atmosphere in turn radiates longwave energy back to Earth as well as out to space. Source: (IPCC, 2007).

14 Earth’s Temperature Changes over last 1000 years Petit et al., 1999 (IPCC 2007) Greatest temperature increase over last century.

15 Model Prediction of Climate Change

16 Model Prediction of Temperature Increase in 2100 Temperature Change (ºC)