A simplified, time-dependent energy balance climate model is run at the latitude belt 40¿-50 ¿N. The model solves for the temperatures of the land air, and 12 vertical oceanic layers, and it includes a wind stirred mixed layer. Because the attenutation of solar radiation in the model ocean varies significantly with wavelength in the visible, fine wavelength resolution radiative transfer for Rayleigh scattering and ozone absorption is used between 340 and 720 nm. The optical properties of the model clouds are functions of the cloud liquid water contents. A change in model ocean optical turbidity from relatively clear (Jerlov I) to particle rich (Jerlov III) conditions decrease the effective thickness of the oceanic layer in which heat is stored seasonally and increases the seasonal variation of sea surface temperature by 2¿-3 ¿C. A decrease in the liquid water content of clouds by a factor of 4 warms the model climate and increases the seasonal variation of sea surface temperatures by 2¿-3 ¿C. A 2¿-3 ¿C change in the seasonal variation of sea surface temperature is also obtained by varying oceanic mixing through a factor of 2 change in the surface wind speed. The model climate is also affected by a diurnal resolution of the oceanic mixed layer. The gross features of the model upper ocean isotherm structure, plotted as a functions of depth and data, are not strongly sensitive to changes in optical water type, cloud liquid water content, or wind induced mixing. |