Abstract
A mathematical model is developed for the zonal-mean latitude-depth distribution of temperature, density and biogeochemical tracers in the world ocean in terms of their surface distributions and internal sources and sinks. Model calculations for specific parameter values are presented and compared with observations of oceanic poleward heat transport, surface windstress and zonal-mean isotherms, and show overall agreement with these features on a planetary scale. Application of the model to calculations of transient climate change by coupling to an energy balance climate model is discussed; also treated are applications to modeling two-dimensional steady-state and transient distributions of inorganic carbon, oxygen, nutrients, alkalinity, radiocarbon and tritium.