With the assumptions made, stationary conditions of the 

 temperature distribution in an ocean at rest would be possible if 

 the temperature in different depths at different latitudes follows 

 equation (16). In the following table this temperature distribution 

 in a meridional cross section between 90° latitude and the equator 

 is computed on the assumption that A/A = 10' . 



Latitude 



(Km) N 



T 



This temperature stratification (figure 3a) shows rough simi- 

 larities with the observed conditions in its very gross features. 

 These similarities are the strong vertical stratification in tropical 

 and subtropical regions with decreasing vertical gradients towards 

 the bottom and the homogeneity at the poles. The distribution of 

 the isotherms in this model (figure 3a) may lead to the impression 

 that the cold water from polar regions spreads out along the ocean 

 bottom towards equatorial regions. Even a more realistic picture 

 could easily be derived with the assumption of an asymmetrical tem- 

 perature distribution at the surface (Northern Hemisphere warmer 

 than the Southern). 



VI. Notes on the influence of the wind 



In the second step, suppose that the wind blows over this ocean. 



19 



