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gfdl's home page > gfdl on-line bibliography > 2002: Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Vol. 12, 3rd Edition, New York: Academic Press, 189-210
Physical oceanography, thermal structure and general circulation
| Gnanadesikan, A., and R. Hallberg, 2002: Physical oceanography, thermal structure and general circulation. In Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology, Vol. 12, 3rd Edition, New York: Academic Press, 189-210 |
| Abstract: Physical oceanography is concerned with the study of the physical processes which control the spatiotemporal structure of such fields as density, temperature, and velocity within the ocean. A major thrust of this field is the development of an understanding of the general circulation, namely the circulation of the ocean on large scales (of order 100-10,000 km) and over long times (decades to millenia). The general circulation is what determines the large-scale chemical and thermal structure of the ocean and plays a major role in global climate and biogeochemistry. The large-scale circulation can be broken down into three cells, a surface cell where wind driving is important, a deep cell where mixing is important, and an intermediate cell where potentially both wind and mixing are important. This article discusses the physical framework necessary to understand these circulations and presents standard models which explain some key features of the large-scale structure. |