Atmosphere–Ocean Interactions

Abstract

Energy, momentum and matter (water, carbon, nitrogen,..) are exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere. Most of the movements in the ocean, particularly the large-scale flow, are caused by these exchange fluxes. Consequently, they need to be reproduced in a climate model as realistically as possible. In the context of this book we will not treat micro-scale fluxes, occurring on a cm- or smaller scale. An in-depth description is provided by Kraus and Businger (1994). We will only present the parameterisations that are implemented mainly in climate models of coarse resolution. Formulations of so-called boundary layers in the atmosphere and ocean are also not discussed.