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

Vector Measuring Current metre

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A current metre used in oceanography that is effective at measuring near-surface currents since it is not as susceptible as some other metres to contamination from vertical currents and high ...

North Brazil Undercurrent (NBUC)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A current underlying the North Brazil Current (NBC) off the northeast coast of Brazil. The NBUC shows a subsurface core at about 200 m with velocities of up to 90 cm/s, resulting in large northward ...

Rip feeder current

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A current that flows parallel to the shore before converging and forming the neck of a rip current.

Central Equatorial Pacific Tomography Experiment (CEPTE)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A long–term, 1000 km scale tomography experiment taking place from Dec. 1998 to Dec. 2000. The purpose is to measure the shallow overturning of a meridional circulation cell, i.e. a subtropical ...

Computational grid

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A mapping of discrete points onto a continuum (e.g. the ocean, the atmosphere, etc.) to comprise a grid-like structure. This is done to enable a numerical solution of the equations governing the ...

Coral reef

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A limestone structure found in relatively shallow water composed of corals, organisms that secrete limestone foundations to provide structural support and protection. There are three ...

Cape Verde Frontal Zone

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A major discontinuity in the warm water sphere in the eastern tropical Atlantic named as such by Zenk et al. (1991). It marks the boundary between the North and South Atlantic Central Waters (NACW, ...