The oceans exert a vital moderating influence on the Earth's climate system. They provide inertia to the global climate, essentially acting as the pacemaker of climate variability and change, and they provide heat to high latitudes, keeping them habitable. Climate and the Oceans offers a short, self-contained introduction to the subject. This illustrated primer begins by briefly describing the world's climate system and ocean circulation and goes on to explain the important ways that the oceans influence climate. Topics covered include the oceans' effects on the seasons, heat transport between equator and pole, climate variability, and global warming. The book also features a glossary of terms, suggestions for further reading, and easy-to-follow mathematical treatments. Climate and the Oceans is the first place to turn to get the essential facts about this crucial aspect of the Earth's climate system. Ideal for students and nonspecialists alike, this primer offers the most concise and up-to-date overview of the subject available.

Preface viiChapter 1: Basics of Climate 1Chapter 2: The Oceans: A Descriptive Overview 22Chapter 3: A Brief Introduction to Dynamics 41Chapter 4: The Ocean Circulation 75Chapter 5: The Ocean's Overall Role in Climate 105Chapter 6: Climate Variability from Weeks to Years 128Chapter 7: Global Warming and the Ocean 156Notes 205Further Reading 211Glossary 215References 223Index 229