20. Ocean Water Density and Atmospheric Forcing

The Atmosphere, the Ocean and Environmental Change (GG 140)

Stability in the ocean is based on the density of the water. Density must increase with depth in order for the ocean to be stable. Density is a function of both temperature and salinity, with cold salty water having a higher density than warm fresh water. Temperature and salinity in the ocean can be affected by the atmosphere. Heat can be added to or removed from the ocean, and precipitation and evaporation change the salinity of the ocean. Surface winds also act as a forcing mechanism on the ocean by creating a wind stress forcing which pushes surface waters.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Ocean Depth Profiles
06:05 - Chapter 2. Salinity
09:36 - Chapter 3. Stability in the Ocean
13:24 - Chapter 4. Density
22:08 - Chapter 5. Atmospheric Forcing of the Ocean
27:50 - Chapter 6. Atmospheric Forcing of the Ocean: Adding and Removing Heat
33:47 - Chapter 7. Atmospheric Forcing of the Ocean: Precipitation and Evaporation
43:23 - Chapter 8. Atmospheric Forcing of the Ocean: Wind Stress

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://oyc.yale.edu

This course was recorded in Fall 2011.