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Abstract |
Today, we can consider the ocean as the key component of the climate system. Because of its
ability to take up heat and absorb greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), the ocean
has greatly neutralized the effects of increasing human-sourced greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere and has helped to reduce substantially the rate of climate change.
However, the ocean remains woefully understudied due to its vastness and to the technical
difficulties of ocean observations. Moreover, ocean dynamics are highly turbulent. Measuring,
modeling and understanding such complex and rapidly varying processes, together with the
air-sea interactions related to the ocean, represent major scientific challenges in climate
science. To unveil these unknowns and uncertainties is an essential step toward predicting
future climate evolution in a more reliable manner.
In this talk, I will highlight some of the most recent progress we made in understanding
processes, observing the ocean and modeling capabilities, and some of the challenges that still
need to be addressed. These include a well-coordinated international effort to develop and
organize a fit-for-purpose innovative ocean observing system.
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