ESS11
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Ocean Memory
qThe
atmosphere responds to altered sea surface temperature
patterns within a matter of days
è little memory in the
atmosphere
qThe
ocean has far more inertia and takes months to respond
to the wind pattern changes in the atmosphere
è Oceans have a long
memory.
qThe
state of the ocean at any time is not simply determined by
the winds at that time because the ocean is still adjusting
to and has a memory of earlier winds.
qOcean memory is carried
by wave propagation along the thermocline.