Physical oceanography is the exploration and study of the physics and geography of the ocean currents and water properties. These complex oceanic motions occur over a wide variety of space and time scales including:
Grand persistent currents, like the Gulf Stream and the wind-driven ocean gyres
Transient eddies and waves of all sizes and speeds from surface gravity waves, to slower internal waves beneath the sea surface, to planetary-scale Rossby waves
Estuary and rivers outflows onto the continental shelf
Coupled ocean-atmosphere interactions, both local and global
Physical oceanography has important applications in global climate and coastal studies. It is also a key element in interdisciplinary studies of primary production, hydrothermal vents, and oceanic flux and storage of carbon dioxide.
Contacts
Education Coordinator
Jake Gebbie- ggebbie@whoi.edu
Joint Committee
Amala Mahadevan (Chair)- amahadevan@whoi.edu
Jake Gebbie- ggebbie@whoi.edu
Robert Todd- rtodd@whoi.edu
Pierre Lermusiaux- pierrel@mit.edu
Glenn Flierl - glenn@lake.mit.edu
Raffaele Ferrari - raffaele@mit.edu