Question

The oceans cover 3.61×1014 m2 of the surface of the Earth. If we take the global averages for oceanic regions as:

Surface temperature = 12°C

Specific humidity at water surface = 0.018

Average atmospheric temperature at 10 m above the water surface = 15°C Specific humidity at 10m = 0.010

Latent heat fluxes are estimated to be 80 Wm-2

Shortwave solar radiation incident on the ocean = 170 Wm-2

Cloudiness, C = 2.56 Oktas

a) Is the global ocean heating or cooling under these conditions? What is the total heat flux entering (or leaving) under these conditions?

b) An indirect action of the variation of global warming is the change in atmospheric structure. Current estimates are that, if mitigation actions are not undertaken, the surface temperature would increase by 4o Celsius with a corresponding increase in water surface humidity, latent heat fluxes and cloud cover by 30%. What is the total heat flux entering (or leaving) under these conditions?

Answer 1