6 Terms
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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
North Pacific Equatorial Water (NPEW)
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a water mass formed at the boundary between the subtropical gyres via mixing in the Equatorial Countercurrent and the Equatorial Undercurrent. NPEW is a mixture of WNPCW and ...
Source water type
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a point on a T-S diagram indicative of a water mass. In practice, few if any water masses have T-S values identical to that of their source water types due to transformation ...
Subduction
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a process whereby Ekman pumping injects surface water into intermediate depths along isopycnal surfaces. This process is responsible for the formation of the water masses in ...
Pycnocline
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a layer where density changes most rapidly with depth. It can be associated with either a thermocline or a halocline.
Potential thickness
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a quantity equal to the local thickness of a water layer divided by the local sine of latitude.
Pycnostad
Earth science; Physical oceanography
In physical oceanography, a layer where the vertical change of density is very small and displays a local minimum.
Siberian High
Earth science; Physical oceanography
One of the centres of action that tend to control large scale weather patterns around the globe. This centre forms over Siberia during the winter and is centred around Lake Baikal. The sea level ...
