"Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters."
The study of the physical properties of the ocean such as temperature, salinity, currents, and waves.
Ocean currents: The movement of water in oceans, driven by winds, tides, and differences in temperature and salinity.
Waves: The propagation of energy through the ocean's surface caused by winds, currents, or earthquakes.
Tides: Periodic changes in sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
Ocean circulation: The large-scale flow patterns of ocean water, including major gyres and upwelling zones.
Sea level rise: The gradual increase in global sea level due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and thermal expansion of seawater.
Ocean chemistry: The study of the chemical composition and processes of the ocean, including the carbon cycle and ocean acidification.
Marine organisms: The study of the biology and ecology of marine organisms, from phytoplankton to whales.
Coastal processes: The study of the interactions between the ocean and the land at the coast, including erosion, sediment transport, and sea level fluctuations.
Remote sensing: The use of satellite, aircraft, and ship-based instruments to measure ocean properties such as sea surface temperature and sea level.
Climate change: The impact of human activities on the physical and biological processes of the ocean, including changes in temperature, sea level, and acidification.
Waves: Study of the behavior and characteristics of ocean waves, including the factors that affect their formation, propagation, and interaction with the coastlines and marine structures.
Tides: Study of the periodic rise and fall of sea levels under the influence of gravitational forces of the moon and the sun, and the impact of tides on the marine ecosystem and coastal processes.
Currents: Study of the movements of large masses of water in the oceans, including their direction, speed, and variability, and the factors that drive them, such as wind, temperature, salinity, and oceanic features.
Coastal Processes: Study of the physical processes that occur along the shoreline, including erosion, sediment transport, and deposition, and how these processes affect coastal ecosystems and human communities.
Sea Ice: Study of the formation, growth, and melting of sea ice in polar regions, and the impact of sea ice on ocean circulation, climate, and marine life.
Ocean Circulation: Study of the large-scale movements of water in the oceans, including the major ocean currents, their variability, and the oceanic mechanisms that drive them, such as thermohaline currents, wind-driven currents, and planetary waves.
Ocean Dynamics: Study of the physical forces and processes that shape the ocean environment, including fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and geophysical phenomena such as tectonics and volcanism.
Biogeochemistry: Study of the chemical, biological, and physical processes that control the distribution and cycling of elements and compounds in the ocean, and their impact on marine life and global climate.
Acoustics: Study of the propagation, reflection, and scattering of sound waves in the ocean, and their application in marine sciences, such as marine biology, oceanography, and geophysics.
Remote Sensing: Study of the use of satellite and other advanced technologies to gather data on the physical properties and processes of the ocean, such as temperature, salinity, and ocean currents.
"Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is divided. Others include biological, chemical, and geological oceanography."
"Descriptive physical oceanography seeks to research the ocean through observations and complex numerical models, which describe the fluid motions as precisely as possible."
"Dynamical physical oceanography focuses primarily upon the processes that govern the motion of fluids with emphasis upon theoretical research and numerical models."
"They are part of the large field of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFD) that is shared together with meteorology."
"GFD is a subfield of Fluid dynamics describing flows occurring on spatial and temporal scales that are greatly influenced by the Coriolis force."
"Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean."
"The subdomains of oceanography include biological, chemical, and geological oceanography."
"Physical oceanography may be subdivided into descriptive and dynamical physical oceanography."
"Descriptive physical oceanography seeks to research the ocean through observations and complex numerical models."
"Dynamical physical oceanography focuses primarily upon the processes that govern the motion of fluids."
"GFD stands for Geophysical Fluid Dynamics."
"Numerical models...describe the fluid motions as precisely as possible."
"GFD is a subfield shared together with meteorology."
"GFD is a subfield of Fluid dynamics."
"Physical oceanography focuses on the motions and physical properties of ocean waters."
"Flows occurring on spatial and temporal scales that are greatly influenced by the Coriolis force."
"Descriptive physical oceanography seeks to research the ocean through observations."
"Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is divided. Others include biological, chemical, and geological oceanography."
"The overarching goal is to understand the physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean."