GEOL 1340 Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Thermohaline Circulation, Zooplankton, Coriolis Force
22 Nov 2016
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12:36 pm: origins of oceans, major constituents of seawater. Outgassing of interior after condensation of water vapor. Bombarded by icy planetesimals prior to 3. 8 billion years. O isotopes in ancient zircons suggest water already present. Expressed in parts per thousand: common ions in sea water, layers of ocean. Variations in t and solutes blended rapidly. Begins 1-1. 5 km below surface to floor. T near 0c but higher salinity prevents freezing. T and salinity values uniform: thermohaline circulation of oceans, surface waters. Driven by diff in t and salinity of water. Direct contact with atm and sun warmed. Moves horizon by wind and wave action. Subtropical oceans have h evaporation rate, h salinity: inhabitation. Primary consumers: surface exchanges o and co2 with atm. Phytoplankton removes co2 and adds o2 to seawater. Dissolved co2 increase with depth and greater dissolution of carbonate. Not smooth but distorted: sea level. Effects of floor bathymetry on local g.
