Elements of physical oceanography

Abstract

This chapter discusses the most important elements of physical oceanography in terms of the various oceanic responses to atmospheric and astronomical forcing - as mediated by earth rotation, including surface, and internal gravity waves; inertial motion and hurricane-driven storm surge. We include an outline of the history of wind-generated surface waves: generation to dissipation on the beaches. The roles of turbulence-derived oceanic friction in Ekman dynamics/upwelling-downwelling are outlined. There is a discussion of the elements of practical tidal sea level prediction. There is a review of the central role of geostrophic flow in wind- and thermohaline-driven circulations on ocean basin as well as continental shelf scales.