| CONCEPT: A COUPLED AIR-OCEAN SYSTEM - Interaction between the oceans and atmosphere has a profound effect on both short term weather and long term climate. Half of the total solarenergy received by the earth is directly absorbed in the oceans. Most of the heat transported from the ocean to the atmosphere is through latent heat release when clouds form. The oceans fuel hurricanes, spawn waterspouts, cause fog, and moderate coastal temperatures. Winds, driven mainly by large-scale temperature differences between land and sea areas, stir the ocean basins, giving rise to the major current systems which govern our climate. |
