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