Oceanography & Climate Synthesis Question: If all of the oceans currents changed direction, would they then heat the equator and cool the poles?

Why does the equator receive more heat than the poles? Why is heat transported from the equator to the poles? Why must any ocean current move heat from where it is warmer to where it is cooler?

Which way do theses currents transport heat?

What of the overturning circulation? Note the deep water formation in both poles.

What is heat transport?

Figure 5.11 Northward heat transport for 1988 in each ocean. From Houghton et al., (1996: 212), which used data from Trenberth and Solomon (1994). What does sign mean? Why is Atlantic always positive?

How does this alter land climate?

What if ocean thermohaline circulation changes?

Effects –Greenland –Black Death & Agricultural productivity –Culture matters.

Effects –Greenland –Black Death & Agricultural productivity What might change THC in future? What might happen to Europe in Global Warming? (unlikely) Is THC changing now? What if surface circulation changes? Is this likely?