On balance, what are the projections for ocean change? It depends . . . How much warming and what

feedbacks? Warming projections:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

2.7 to 3.3 K to 2100 Feedbacks are studied with

“General Circulation Models”

Data acquisition

Changes in temperature

Changes in sea level

Historical change in salinity

Current model projections Thermal expansion contributes major sea

level increase, but not as much as adding freshwater

Glacial melt could contribute 130 – 160 mm increase

Antarctic ice cap melting offset by increased precipitation

Redistribution of Antarctic sea ice (melting) increases equatorial & northern sea level through gravity effect

Mammals 'floated to Madagascar' By Mark Kinver Science and environment reporter, BBC News

The ancestors of the current mammals found on the island of Madagascar could have been transported on floating vegetation from Africa, a study says.

Climate is influenced by global winds and ocean currents

Global WindsGlobal Winds from Satellite Data

Coriolis Effect Based on the rotation of a sphere (the

Earth) Illustration Influences the rotation of eddies at

intermediate scales Influences the rotation of gyres at the

scale of ocean basins

Northeastern Pacific Wind Pattern

Southeast Pacific Wind Pattern

Winds link land & oceans

surface water currents

link between surface and deep circulation

Coriolis effect influences deep circulation

Equatorial upwelling

Current direction varies with depth

Current patterns differ among ocean basins

Indian Ocean

Biological productivity is influenced by ocean currents