Physical oceanography
Physical oceanography is the study of the physical processes affecting and being driven by the Earth's oceans, including:
- ocean currents, including:
- wind-driven surface currents (see Upwelling)
- geostrophic currents (see Coriolis effect, secondary circulation)
- Thermohaline circulation
- Water masses (see also North Atlantic Deep Water)
- Tides (see also Tidal resonance, Tidal locking)
- stability of the water column (see Density (sea water))
- mixing and turbulence (see fluid dynamics)
- physical features and processes on the ocean floor: oceanic trench, continental slope, continental shelf, abyssal plain, oceanic ridge, black smokers, hydrothermal circulation, seamount, atoll, and others.