energy transfer
ATMOSPHERE – OCEAN INTERACTIONS
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LECTURE NOTES
1. Introduction to the Atmosphere and Ocean
J. S. Wright
jswright@tsinghua.edu.cn
1.1 O VERVIEW
This chapter outlines the main features of the atmosphere–ocean system and motivates the deeper examination to follow. The character of coupled atmosphere–ocean interactions is briefly introduced. Simple energy balance models are derived and used to illustrate the fundamental mechanisms behind variations of temperature with altitude, latitude, and season.
The global annual mean energy balance is then presented and briefly discussed. Finally, the origins, thermodynamic structure, and composition of the atmosphere and ocean are summarized. 1.2 T HE ATMOSPHERE –O CEAN S YSTEM
Interactions between the atmosphere and ocean play a fundamental role in determining the state and variability of Earth’s climate on all timescales. The atmosphere responds rapidly to regional and global changes in the energy balance, and transmits their influences over large distances. In this way, the atmosphere serves as a bridge, connecting different ocean basins.
The ocean has a tremendous capacity to store and release heat (more than 1000 times that of the atmosphere!), which has a remarkable influence on regional climate. For example, the annual range of surface temperature in land-locked Beijing is more than 50◦ C, while that at the same latitude off the western coast of North America is only about 10◦ C. The ocean also acts to integrate the effects of synoptic weather disturbances, allowing these short-lived events to influence climate on longer timescales.
Figure 1.1 shows a schematic diagram of the atmosphere–ocean system that illustrates many of the forms that interactions between the atmosphere and ocean take. Heat exchange between the atmosphere and ocean drives global, regional, and local circulations in both the atmosphere and the ocean. Tropical deep convection rapidly transmits the influence of
::
LECTURE NOTES
1. Introduction to the Atmosphere and Ocean
J. S. Wright
jswright@tsinghua.edu.cn
1.1 O VERVIEW
This chapter outlines the main features of the atmosphere–ocean system and motivates the deeper examination to follow. The character of coupled atmosphere–ocean interactions is briefly introduced. Simple energy balance models are derived and used to illustrate the fundamental mechanisms behind variations of temperature with altitude, latitude, and season.
The global annual mean energy balance is then presented and briefly discussed. Finally, the origins, thermodynamic structure, and composition of the atmosphere and ocean are summarized. 1.2 T HE ATMOSPHERE –O CEAN S YSTEM
Interactions between the atmosphere and ocean play a fundamental role in determining the state and variability of Earth’s climate on all timescales. The atmosphere responds rapidly to regional and global changes in the energy balance, and transmits their influences over large distances. In this way, the atmosphere serves as a bridge, connecting different ocean basins.
The ocean has a tremendous capacity to store and release heat (more than 1000 times that of the atmosphere!), which has a remarkable influence on regional climate. For example, the annual range of surface temperature in land-locked Beijing is more than 50◦ C, while that at the same latitude off the western coast of North America is only about 10◦ C. The ocean also acts to integrate the effects of synoptic weather disturbances, allowing these short-lived events to influence climate on longer timescales.
Figure 1.1 shows a schematic diagram of the atmosphere–ocean system that illustrates many of the forms that interactions between the atmosphere and ocean take. Heat exchange between the atmosphere and ocean drives global, regional, and local circulations in both the atmosphere and the ocean. Tropical deep convection rapidly transmits the influence of