Mobile version

Current heat

Image of the month - January 2005

Changes in the extend of the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio. "Elongated" current extend (see right scheme) in 1993 and 1999, contracted in 1996 and 2001, as seen by Topex/Poseidon (left). (Credits University of Washington)

Much of the heat transported poleward by the oceans is carried in the "western boundary currents", like the Gulf Stream (in the North Atlantic) or the Kuroshio (in the North Pacific). As they extend into the open ocean, some of their heat goes into the atmosphere, and some is stored. Sea surface height measured by altimetry satellites depends -- among other things -- on the water temperature (both surface heating and changes in layer thickness give changes in heat content), and thus can vary with heat storage and transport. The upper ocean heat budget can be computed by using altimetry data in conjunction with a model.
Year-to-year variations are observed in the extend of the western boundary currents, that can be correlated with changes in upper ocean heat content. Those are the result of variations in heat exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere and, mainly, of horizontal motions in the ocean (advection). Such changes are related with large-scale ones in the atmosphere, and have an impact over the ocean-atmosphere heat exchanges, with implications for decadal climate variations. Information about the extend of the major currents brought by altimetry could thus be used in helping for better seasonal to interannual climate forecasting.

See also:

Websites on this subject:

References

  • Kelly, K.A., and S. Dong, 2004: The relationship of western boundary current heat transport and storage to midlatitude ocean-atmosphere interaction, in Earth’s Climate: The Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction, edited by C. Wang, S.-P. Xie, and J. A. Carton, pp. 347-364, American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monograph 147.
  • Dong, S. and K.A. Kelly, 2004: Heat budget in the Gulf Stream region: the importance of heat advection and storage, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 34, 1214-1231.
EnglishFrançais
Rss feedsContactPartnersFAQLexiconLegal noticePersonal Data Protection PolicyMobile
You must enable cookies in your browser preferences to save the modifications
You are using an older version of Internet Explorer, please update to take full advantage of Aviso+ features

Customize the home page

View all widgets
Reduce display
Public profile
User profile

Select/Deselect widgets

Discover AVISO+

Customizable home, reading tools, products search guide, etc.. Discover step by step the features of the new site AVISO+.

Customizable homepage

This home page is composed of blocks called "widgets".

Rearrange the blocks with a "Click & Drop".

Hide a widget with the cross at the top right. Reset or add a widget with the "wrench" icon. The "User" and "Public" profiles offer a predefined organization.

All the modifications are automatically saved as cookies on your machine so as to enable you to have your own specific AVISO+.

Reading tools

Ease your reading by choosing the page background colour (black/white) and/or by modifying the font size.

Browsing menu and breadcrum trail

To ease your browsing through AVISO+, you can use at any time the main banner items with the interactive submenus or use the browsing menu on the left side of the screen (it is open by default). For more readiness of the page contents, you can fold and unfold the browsing menu by clicking on the tab. At any time you can know where you are thanks to the browsing menu or the breadcrum at the top of the page.

Products search guide

The first submenu of the "Data" banner item leads you to a new search form enabling you to find quickier the product that suits your needs. The list of results is updated according to your selection criteria.

AVISO+ Multimedia

The first submenu of the "Multimedia" banner item leads you to AVISO+ collections of images and videos linked to altimetry and its applications. Have a nice visit!