Physical oceanography

Physical oceanography

The scientific study of the physical conditions and processes related to the motions and physical properties of ocean currents and waters.

Industry: Earth science

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Physical oceanography

Thermobaricity

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A phenomena related to the pressure dependence of the thermal expansion coefficient for the density of seawater. The dependence of the compressibility of seawater on both potential temperature and ...

Mallorca Channel

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A passage between Ibiza and Mallorca with a sill depth of 500 m.

Continental Slope Current

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A persistent poleward flow over the continental slope region off northwestern Europe. It is thought to originate as far south as the Armorican Slope region off the west coast of northern France, and ...

Coral bleaching

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A phenomena wherein coral reefs bleach as a result of high temperatures or other environmental stresses, e.g. pollution episodes. Observations indicate that since 1979 bleaching episodes have ...

North Equatorial Undercurrent (NEUC)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A permanent eastward flowing feature of the equatorial Atlantic circulation whose core is located near 200 m depth a few degrees north of the Equator. A satisfactory dynamical explanation for this is ...

Monsoon

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A periodic wind caused by the effects of differential heating, with the largest and most notorious being the Indian monsoon found in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. The word is thought to have ...