Physical Oceanography and Climate

Climate research over recent decades has shown that the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere drives the global climate system. This engaging and accessible textbook focuses on climate dynamics from the perspective of the upper ocean, and specifically on the interaction between the atmosphere and ocean. It describes the fundamental physics and dynamics governing the behavior of the ocean, and how it interacts with the atmosphere, giving rise to natural climate variability and influencing climate change. Including end-of-chapter questions and turn-key access to online, research-quality data sets, the book allows readers the chance to apply their knowledge and work with real data. Comprehensive information is also provided on the data sets used to produce the numerous illustrations, allowing students to dive deeper into the data themselves. Providing an accessible treatment of physical oceanography, it is perfect for intermediate-advanced students wishing to gain an interdisciplinary introduction to climate science and oceanography.

1. Introduction; 2. The heat budget; 3. The salt budget; 4. The momentum budget; 5. The atmospheric interface; 6. Response to wind forcing; 7. Coupled climate variability; 8. Response to buoyancy forcing; 9. Climate change and the ocean; Index.

Kris Karnauskas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and a Fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. He has secondary faculty appointments in the School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health. Prior to these positions he was a member of the Scientific Staff at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Kris currently serves as Editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, and recently served on the Scientific Steering Committee of the US Climate Variability and Predictability Program. He was the recipient of the 2017 Ocean Sciences Early Career Award from the American Geophysical Union. He is frequently a contractor to the United Nations Development Programme, providing expertise on regional climate change impacts for small island nations.