2.

Oceans and Climate

Syllabus Points

 Explain the thermal transfers of energy within oceans and the importance of oceanic conveyor belts.
 Explain the atmosphere–oceanic interactions associated with ENSO.
 Explain the El Niño and La Niña phenomena and their climatic, environmental and economic effects.
 Examine the role of oceans as a store and source of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Energy and Carbon Dioxide Transfers

1. Thermohalocline Circulation
o Oceanic Conveyor Belt

How it works

1. Oceanic convection occurs from the polar regions

2. Cold, salty water sinks → makes its way towards the equator
a. Densest water is found in the Antarctic. Seawater freezes to form ice.
b. Ice = fresh water. Sea water left behind is much saltier and therefore denser.
3. Cold, dense water sweeps round Antarctica at a depth of ~4km
4. Spreads into basins of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans
5. Surface Currents bring warm water to North Atlantic from the Indian and Pacific Oceans
6. These waters give up their heat to cold winds when blow from Canada across the North Atlantic
7. This water then sinks and starts the reverse convection of the deep ocean current.
a. The amount of heat given up is about a third of the energy that is received from the sun.
8. Because the conveyer operates this way, the North Atlantic is warmer than the North Pacific
a. Proportionally more evaporation there
b. Water left behind by evaporation is saltier and therefore much denser, which causes it to sink.
9. Eventually, water is transported into the pacific where it picks up more water and its density is reduced.