ABSTRACT

Physical oceanography is the branch of marine science dealing with physical conditions and physical processes in the oceans. It includes four main subject areas: (1) the physical properties of seawater, especially those parameters that influence its density (i.e., temperature and salinity); (2) special properties of seawater (e.g., light, sound, and pressure); (3) energy transfer between the ocean and atmosphere; and (4) water movements in the ocean (e.g., waves, tides, and currents) and the forcing mechanisms responsible for these movements. 1