1. General characteristics of the ocean 1.1 Geographical characteristics 1.2 Chemical and physical characteristics 1.3 Stratification

What forces atmospheric circulation ? Why does it rain more close to the equator ? What is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone ? If air rises close to the equator, where and how does it come down ?

What is el Niño ? What is the normal seasonal cycle ? What happens during the ENSO phenomenon ? A coupled ocean/atmosphere phenomenon. Iregular occurrences.

What is deep convection ? Why is deep convection important for the climate ? How does convection work ? Where are the main sites of oceanic convection ? Convection in the polar regions : a case of

What are upwellings and what causes them ? What about velocity and seasonality ?

Surface ocean circulation : which layer ? Circulation charts : the "average" currents. How variable are the currents ?

Where is it located ? Where does it star and what are its features ? What is the connection with the supolar gyre ? What about the return leg of the subtropical gyre ? What are the relationship