Education: The Layered Ocean
Oceanic processes occurring at the surface level of the open ocean are starkly different from those taking place at the seafloor. By studying the interactions between surface waters and the deep, scientists are able to observe how ocean water circulates around the world and how something like a changing climate will affect these complex processes.
In this clip, Dr. Tom Farrar describes his research with surface seawater fluxes and what it means to create a salinity "budget" for the SPURS study site.
Dr. Stephen Riser explains that sea surface salinity can vary not only throughout the global ocean, but also from surface to deep.
In this clip, Dr. Stephen Riser explains that ocean salinity is a way to better understand the global water cycle. Salinity plays a role in determining seawater density, which can determine where water travels throughout the oceans.