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| Subject keyword(s) | Astronomy, Atmospheric science, Climate, Earth's water, Earth and space science, Earth science, Environmental science, Geoscience, Global climate change, Global warming, Meteorology, Oceanography, Oceans, Physical oceanography, Physical sciences, Science, Space Science, Space sciences |
|---|---|
| Grade level | Middle School, High School, Informal Education, Vocational/Professional Development Education |
| Intended audience | Educator, Learner |
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NASA Earth Observatory Home Images Global Maps Features News & Notes by David Herring There is clear evidence that Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 0.5°C over the last 100 years. However, there is some uncertainty as to thecauses of this temperature increase, as well as what its short- andlong-term effects will be on regional and global scales. Predictivecomputer models indicate that given a steady rise in levels of greenhousegases, such as carbon dioxide, there will be a corresponding increase insurface temperatures. Yet surprisingly, despite a 30 percent increase incarbon dioxide levels since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution,temperatures haven't risen as much as the models predicted. Why? Becausegreenhouse gases aren't the only influence on temperature. There are manyother variables--such clouds, aerosols, and the ocean--that also affecttemperature. Air and sea embrace The Earth's ocean and atmosphere are locked in such an intricateembrace--as one changes so changes the other. At the interface between airand sea, there is a constant flow of information, as vast amounts of energyand chemicals (in the form of gases and aerosols) are continually beingexchanged. If energy and chemicals are the languages that program thebehavior of atmosphere and ocean, then regional and global scale climatevariations are the outputs from this complex system. If scientists couldlearn to better interpret the "dialogue" between ocean and atmosphere, theycould do a better job of predicting regional and global climate change. Since the 1960s, scientists have developed sophisticated computer models tohelp them understand the ocean's role in moderating climate. Yet manyquestions remain unanswered. In recent decades, the ocean has partiallyoffset the anticipated global warming due to rising greenhouse gas levelsby exerting a cooling effect on climate. But, over the long run,scientists don't know whether the ocean's cooling influence will persist.Some theorize that if the ocean's circulation system changes, then theocean could contribute to, or even amplify, global warming. At the heartof global-scale oceanography are the following questions: How will globalwarming affect life in the ocean? How do ocean temperature, chemistry, andbiology influence climate? Are human activities contributing to changes inthe marine environment and, in turn, how might these changes feed back toaffect us? Other Ocean Fact Sheets: What are phytoplankton? What are coccolithophores? El Niño La Niña Space-based oceanography Reliable sea surface temperature measurements from space-based sensors havebeen a goal of oceanographers since the late 1960s. For the first timeever, NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) missions will provideoceanographers with the radiometric resolution and precision, thescientific calibration, the surface viewing geometry, and the ability toremove atmospheric effects (such as clouds and aerosols) that will enablemeasurements of sea surface temperature accurate to within 0.5 Kelvin.These data will enable a better understanding of physical ocean-atmospherecoupling--particularly during El Niño events. Moreover, by precisely measuring ocean color, scientists can accuratelyestimate the concentrations of phytoplankton on a global scale. Couplingocean color measurements with atmospheric aerosol and trace gasmeasurements will also yield new insights into the chemical links betweenocean and atmosphere. next:The ocean's physicalinteractions with the atmosphere The SeaStar spacecraft, developed by OSC, carries the Sea-viewingWide-Field-of -view Sensor (SeaWiFS). SeaStar was launched on August 1,1997, into a low Earth orbit. SeaWiFS is specially designed to preciselymeasure ocean color, allowing scientists to monitor the abundance anddistribution of phytoplankton, as well as ocean currents. (Courtesy of theSeaWiFS Project) Print this entire article Subscribe Today Subscribe Today Feeds Contact Us About the Earth Observatory Image Use Policy Privacy Policy & Important Notices The Earth Observatory is part of the EOS Project Science Office located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center webmaster: Paul Przyborski | NASA official: Lorraine Remer