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How does GODAE support Climate Research?
We need to know what the ocean is doing now to understand future trends and changes. Accurate and comprehensive observations and state-of-the art modelling are necessary to improve our ability to make predictions about the future course of the Earth system.
Right from the start GODAE has supported the implementation of the most comprehensive ocean observing system ever. This system provides oceanographers with the latest data for scientific studies of the ocean-atmosphere status. With these observational data, researchers can refine their models of the ocean’s physical, biological, and chemical influences on global climatic and environmental change. GODAE research groups focus on high quality global climate estimates. Reanalysis studies provide improved base and reference data sets for climate research.
Within the last two decades climate research has become a major focus for meteorologists and oceanographers alike. Although the issue of climate change relates to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere, the oceans play a critical role in the regulation of the global climate. The oceans cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface and contain about 97% of the earth’s surface water. It is clear that the oceans play a significant part in the global climate system.
The oceans have the ability to absorb and store vast amounts of heat, received from the sun. Ocean currents transport this heat from the equator to the poles, regulating the planet’s heat balance and thus helping to stabilise the global climate.
The oceans absorb and emit greenhouse gases. Water vapour, evaporating from the ocean surface, acts as a cooling factor by forming clouds. Through photosynthesis carbon dioxide (CO2 - a prominent greenhouse gas) is incorporated into the biomass and deposited into the ocean. Over geological time, more than 90% of the world’s carbon has settled into the deep. This makes the ocean a sink for carbon and atmospheric CO2.
However, we can not be sure if these stabilising effects are active in the long term. It is known from ice core research that ocean circulations can change abruptly under certain conditions with dramatic effects for the earth’s climate. It is therefore essential to monitor the ocean state in detail. From well observed ocean states it is possible to simulate the changes in ocean behaviour over time by use of sophisticated physical ocean models.
Further links: The role of the Ocean in Climate Change
(Last Updated: 16-10-2007)