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

South Atlantic Central Water (SACW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A variety of Central Water found in the Atlantic Ocean south of about 15°N. It shows uniform properties throughout its range, with the T–S curve well described by a straight line between the points ...

Dicothermal layer

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A vertical ocean layer sometimes found in high northern latitudes. It is a cold (as low as -1.6° C) layer from 50 to 100 m sandwiched between warmer surface and deeper layers. The water column ...

Weddell Sea Bottom Water (WSBW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A type of water found in the seas surrounding Antarctica with temperatures ranging from -1.4 to 0.8° C and salinities of 34.65 ppt. It underlies Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and is found on the ...

Pressure coordinates

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A vertical coordinate system often used in numerical circulation models in which the vertical coordinate is pressure. The equations are created by replacing the vertical velocity in the equations of ...

Water

Earth science; Physical oceanography

A variety of Subtropical Mode Water (STMW) that forms in the western subtropical gyre of the North Atlantic Ocean, i.e. the area known as the Sargasso Sea. This has also been called Sargasso Sea ...