What is the poleward heat transport?
Thermohaline circulation A significant characteristic of the large-scale North Atlantic circulation is the poleward transport of heat. Heat is transferred in a northward direction throughout the North Atlantic.
How does the atmosphere transport energy poleward?
In the atmosphere, the transport is affected by “eddies” and large scale meridional cells, both with zero net mass transport across latitude circles, but also partly by processes associated with a net transport of mass across latitude circles.
What determines the location and magnitude of poleward energy transport?
Therefore, the ratio of the poleward energy transport in low latitudes in the two media is determined by the ratio of the atmospheric gross static stability to that of the ocean.
What is meridional heat transport?
Introduction. The maximum meridional heat transport (MHTMAX) in a climate system that is in equilibrium is equal to the net radiative surplus integrated over the tropics or, equivalently, the net radiative deficit integrated over the extratropics (Vonder Haar and Oort 1973).
How is poleward heat transport affected by global warming?
It has been shown that the heat transport from low and middle latitudes to the Arctic by large scale transient eddies increases by about 9% due to global warming, contributing to the polar amplification and thereby a decrease in the extent of the Arctic sea, which, in turn, is an important factor in the formation of …
Where is poleward heat transfer greatest?
Based on a reanalysis of data gathered between February 1985 and April 1989, the study shows that the atmosphere handles 78% of the total heat transport in the Northern Hemisphere and 92% in the Southern Hemisphere at 35 degrees latitude–where the total poleward transport in each hemisphere peaks.
What are poleward currents?
And those western boundary currents and their eastward extensions kind of out into the middle of the ocean are what these authors are saying are pushing poleward. So that means towards the north pole in the Northern Hemisphere and towards the south pole in the southern hemisphere.
Why does poleward heat transport occur?
By carrying warm surface water poleward, this loop acts like a heat pump in which sensible heat is acquired in tropical and equatorial regions and is moved northward into the North Atlantic, where it is transferred to the air. Since wind patterns move air eastward at higher latitudes, this heat ultimately warms Europe.
How is the poleward heat transport affected by climate change?
Why is it necessary for the ocean and atmosphere to transport heat poleward?
If there was no such poleward heat transport, the tropics would be warmer and the polar regions would be much colder. In other words, the poleward transport of heat by the atmosphere and the ocean greatly reduces the temperature contrast between the high and the low latitudes.
Where are Hadley cells located?
the equator
Hadley cells exist on either side of the equator. Each cell encircles the globe latitudinally and acts to transport energy from the equator to about the 30th latitude. The circulation exhibits the following phenomena: Warm, moist air converging near the equator causes heavy precipitation.
Where is poleward heat transfer the greatest?