Ocean Circulation and Climate

3.0 credits · Graduate

We will build a descriptive understanding of the dynamics that govern ocean circulation in order to explore the ocean’s role in Earth’s climate system. The course emphasizes large-scale ocean circulation, with a particular focus on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and Southern Ocean Meridional Overturning Circulation (SOMOC) and the role of polar and subpolar processes in these systems. We will engage with contemporary scientific literature to examine how ocean circulation is changing and how these changes impact the redistribution of heat, carbon, and oxygen within the climate system. Intended for students in Earth and Climate Sciences, Atmospheric Science, Engineering, Marine Biology, and other science majors. Prior coursework in oceanography is not assumed.