Theories of the General Ocean Circulation

  • Date: 02/25/2008
Lecturer(s):

Joseph Pedlosky (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Location: 

University of British Columbia

Description: 

The general circulation of the ocean is a global phenomenon in which
many geographically localized structures have long attracted scientific
attention. This lecture will survey some of these and emphasize the
connection between them. The connection between western boundary
currents, such as the Gulf Stream, and the oceanic interior circulation
will be discussed. The vertical density structure of the broad interior
of the ocean, the thermocline, will be shown to be connected to the
equatorial current system, in particular the Equatorial Undercurrent
(EUC). The possibility that the strength of the global meridional
overturning circulation (MOC), so important to the climate system, is
related to the detailed boundary layer structure joining the base of
the thermocline to the abyssal ocean will be reviewed.

Other Information: 

IAM - PIMS - MITACS
DISTINGUISHED COLLOQUIUM SERIES

Sponsor: 

iampimsmitacs