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Title: Global transport processes and interactions with trace constituents. Annual progress report, 1 July 1976--30 September 1977. [Sea surface temperatures of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in relation to air temperature changes; effects of fossil fuel CO/sub 2/ on air temperature]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7300304· OSTI ID:7300304

Technical progress made in the period 1 July 1976 to 30 September 1977 is summarized. A detailed analysis of monthly mean sea surface temperature has been made for the Pacific and Atlantic down to 30/sup 0/S and is in progress for the Indian Ocean. It has been found that oceanic temperature changes precede tropical air temperature changes by about six months, opening the prospect of predicting tropical mean temperature. It has also been found that fossil fuel CO/sub 2/ changes in the atmosphere are related to equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature in the sense that colder water is followed by smaller rates of increase in atmospheric CO/sub 2/. It is suggested that the physical reason for the observed relationship is that cold water, produced by upwelling, is accompanied by more nutrients which encourage photosynthesis in the surface layers and lead to a greater take-up of atmospheric CO/sub 2/.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Dept. of Metallurgy
Sponsoring Organization:
US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-S-02-2195
OSTI ID:
7300304
Report Number(s):
COO-2195-29
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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