Polar Oceanography

Polar Oceanography

The polar oceans play a crucial role in the (changing) coupled climate system. They
play a dominant role in the global hydrological cycle and they are also key regions for
the formation of the deep and bottom waters which invade the global oceans. In
addition, polar oceans are distinct from low-latitude oceans in the sense that ice is
present in the form of sea ice, ice shelves and marine terminating glaciers. The
interaction between seawater and ice and the additional riverine input of freshwater
(particularly in the Arctic) have a strong control on the polar ocean circulation. This
lecture aims providing a coherent overview of polar oceanography, including both
Arctic and Antarctic phenomena.

Content
• Properties of (cold) sea water
• Principles of ocean circulation
• Arctic Hydrography & Circulation
• Arctic - Subarctic Exchange
• Antarctic Hydrography & Circulation
• Antarctic Meridional Exchange
• Sea Ice Properties
• Sea Ice Development & Melting
• Sea Ice Dynamics
• Ice Ocean Boundary Layer Processes
• Polynyas
• Ocean – Iceshelf Interaction
• Ocean – Marine Terminating Glacier Interaction
• Role of Polar Oceans in a changing climate