OCEAN–ATMOSPHERE COUPLING Mesoscale eddy effects
1st paragraph: Because of its enormous heat capacity, the ocean plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Up to about a decade ago, it was generally believed that, outside the tropics, the ocean responds only passively to atmospheric forcing1. However, with the advent of satellite measurements of sea surface temperature and surface winds with resolutions down to about 50 km, it became apparent that the strong gradients in sea surface temperature that are associated with meanders in the Gulf Stream, the California Current and most other ocean currents can directly affect surface winds1–3.
Credits: NATURE GEOSCIENCE | VOL 6 | AUGUST 2013
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