Ocean-atmosphere fluxes

The oceans play a very important role in climate because they move large amounts of heat from the tropics to the poles and store large amounts of heat, carbon and carbon dioxide within their depths. The thermohaline ocean circulation, driven by changes in sea-water density resulting from temperature or salinity effects, allows water from the surface to be carried down into the deeps where it is isolated from the atmosphere. Freshwater inputs from river discharges, meltwater and precipitation exert an influence on salinity and ocean circulation patterns. The oceans absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and exchange them with the atmosphere in ways that alter ocean circulation and climate variability. Consequently, climate models used to assess the global warming/climate change phenomenon must include an adequate description of these and other ocean processes if they are to produce realistic projections of future climate.