Exploring the Cold Oceans of the North. With Math

Earth's climate is changing, with both natural cycles and human-induced change. These are not uniform warmings and coolings that happen everywhere, but instead come in patterns. Natural oscillations of the oceans and atmosphere can make the Labrador Sea chill down while Canada and northern Asia...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rhines, Peter B.
Format: Text
Language:unknown
Published: ScholarWorks at University of Montana 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mathcolloquia/90
Description
Summary:Earth's climate is changing, with both natural cycles and human-induced change. These are not uniform warmings and coolings that happen everywhere, but instead come in patterns. Natural oscillations of the oceans and atmosphere can make the Labrador Sea chill down while Canada and northern Asia warm. In this talk we describe how expeditions to the sub-Arctic on ships lead to mathematical models of ocean circulation and its variability. By taking math and physics 'out-doors' we find a world of inviting problems, whose solutions affect our future water supplies, weather and the health of all our ecosystems. And, we also find some adventure in this final wilderness.