Ocean and Atmosphere Interactions

Ocean and Atmosphere Interactions

Introduction

Oceans are connected bodies of saline water that cover about three-quarters of the Earth and comprise more than 97 percent of the worlds total water resources. Although continuous, the global ocean is divided into five oceans based on geographic location, geological barriers, and other criteria, into the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern oceans. Oceans have great influence on global weather patterns and climate. (Land, 1995) This influence stems from variations in ocean temperature caused chiefly by the movement of radiant solar heat absorbedby the oceans surface. Recently, atmospheric changes and resultant changes in ...