76 Terms
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Oceanography
The scientific studies of the ocean.
Industry: Earth science
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Oceanography
Pressure gradient force
Earth science; Oceanography
The force that causes acceleration from higher to lower pressure in a fluid such as the air. It arises because of a pressure gradient or change between higher and lower pressure. As an analogy, ...
Greenhouse effect
Earth science; Oceanography
The greenhouse effect causes the atmosphere to trap more heat energy at the Earth's surface and within the atmosphere by absorbing and re-emitting longwave energy. Of the longwave energy emitted ...
Power spectrum
Earth science; Oceanography
The Fourier transform of the kinetic energy field. The power spectrum provides a useful diagnostic to measure a what length scales energy is concentrated and, in turbulent flow, over what length ...
Cardinal points
Earth science; Oceanography
The four main navigational directions (North, East, South, and West) found on a compass or a map.
Geopotential height
Earth science; Oceanography
The height of a given point in the atmosphere in units proportional to the potential energy of unit mass (geopotential) at this height, relative to sea level. In the CGS system, the relation between ...
Holocene
Earth science; Oceanography
The Holocene epoch is a geological period that runs from the present day back to about 10,000 years BP. It forms the upper division of the Quaternary era.
Territorial limit
Earth science; Oceanography
The limit of coastal waters over which a nation exercises sovereign jurisdiction, which extends 12 nautical miles (22km) from the mean low water mark adjacent to land, or from internal waters (as ...
