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 Pacific Equatorial Water (SPEW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, a water mass partly formed by convective sinking of surface water at SSTs of 26° C and above in the tropics in the area of Polynesia. It is identified at temperatures ...

Eurafrican Mediterranean Water (EMW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, a water mass that leaves the Strait of Gibraltar with a temperature of about 13.5° C and a salinity of 37.8 but is transformed by mixing to a temperature and salinity of ...

Weddell Deep Water (WDW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, a water mass type formed in the Weddell Sea by surface cooling and subsequent convection in the polyna. This water has stable properties with a potential temperature between ...

Western South Pacific Central Water (WSPCW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, a water mass which is one of six distinguishable Central Water masses in the Pacific Ocean. Its T-S properties are almost indistinguishable from those of ICW and SACW, ...

Western North Pacific Central Water (WNPCW)

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, the dominant water mass in the northern subtropical gyre, formed and subducted in the northern STC. This is fresher than NPEW at all temperatures and saltier than ENPCW ...

Polar Frontal Zone

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, the name given to a transition region in the Southern Ocean (SO) or Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) between the Subantarctic Front (SAF) to the north and the Polar Front ...

Pacific Equatorial Water

Earth science; Physical oceanography

In physical oceanography, the water mass that occupies the largest volume of the Pacific thermocline waters. The NPEW and the SPEW are two varieties of this separated, as one might guess, by the ...