Oceanography

Oceanography

The scientific studies of the ocean.

Industry: Earth science

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Oceanography

sidescan sonar

Earth science; Oceanography

A form of geophysical survey which uses an acoustic imaging device used to provide wide area, high resolution pictures of the seabed. The instrument towed behind the vessel transmits acoustic ...

acid shock

Earth science; Oceanography

A sudden acidification of runoff waters from the spring melting of accumulated snow in the middle latitudes because of the winter deposition of acidic precipitation.

halocline

Earth science; Oceanography

A vertical salinity gradient in some layer of a body of water, which is appreciably greater than the gradients above and below it; also a layer in which such a gradient occurs. The principal ...

bearing

Earth science; Oceanography

A system that measures in reference to the cardinal points of a compass in 90 degree quadrants.

inertial instability

Earth science; Oceanography

An instability of geostrophic (cyclostrophic) motion due to imbalance between pressure gradient and inertial forces for an infinitessimal disturbance that meridionally (radially) displaces fluid. ...

anticyclone gyre

Earth science; Oceanography

A closed circulation system, ranging in size from a few hundred meters to thousands of kilometers; associated with the concentrated center of highest pressure in an anticyclone.

Flat areas of the ocean basin floor which slope less than 1 part in 1000. These were formed by turbidity currents which covered the preexisting topography. Most abyssal plains are located between the ...