Thermodynamic Layer Convergence and the Antarctic Ocean Heat Content

Thermodynamic Layer Convergence and the Antarctic Ocean Heat Content

Since there are still people skeptical of my understanding of thermodynamics and the impact of conductivity of the air on climate, I am giving a little preview of my anticipated results.

In the Antarctic ocean there is a convergence of the ocean 4C boundary and the atmospheric -20 C maximum conductivity boundary. The 4C is a temperature/density boundary and the Maximum Conductive Boundary (MCB) which I may have coined, is a quirk of the conductive properties of carbon dioxide.

As salt water approaches the temperature of 4C, its density approaches its maximum. The more dense salt water sinks leaving behind slightly less saline water which can eventually freeze near -1 degree C. This creates the deep ocean current originating in the Antarctic.

When the air temperature approaches -20 degrees C its conductivity or coefficient of thermal conductivity, remains stable to slightly increases. Typically, thermal conductivity of the atmosphere would decrease with a decrease in temperature. Because of CO2, that decrease is less and with more CO2 in the atmosphere, the MCD would increase.

At the point where they converge, boundary layer interaction maintains a relatively constant heat flux which increase with local thermodynamic conditions.

The typical ocean:atmosphere Thermal Conductivity ratio is 1000:1, meaning the ocean can transfer 1000 times more heat to the atmosphere than the reverse. The convergence of the 4C and MCB layers maximize the coefficient of heat transfer in this region. The typical limiting factor is the thermal conductivity of the air side of the heat exchange. Obviously, small changes in the air side conductivity can make larger changes in the transfer of heat content.

See Radiation versus Conduction.