Beneath the Surface: Ocean's Horizontal Layers, The
The area beneath the surface of the ocean is laid out in discrete zones and layers. These provide a convenient framework within which to analyze ocean structure.
Going with the Flow: Measuring Ocean Currents
Given the importance of ocean currents in the marine environment, oceanographers have tried for years to accurately measure them. Advances in current meters and acoustic technology have made the process easier, but the task of measuring currents rem...
Going with the Flow: Ocean Circulation Patterns
Among the largest structural features in the open ocean are the subtropical gyres that occur in the major ocean basins. But while gyres loom large in the overall scheme of ocean circulation, patterns of surface current motion can often be quite vari...
Going with the Flow: Ocean Currents: Cause and Effect
In addition to their role in El Nino and other weather events, ocean currents are also important for delivering nutrients, especially along coastlines, and for facilitating the movement of planktonic organisms. Surface currents are influenced by sev...
Something in the Air: Coriolis Force, The
The Coriolis Effect, named for 19th century French scientist Gaspard Gustave Coriolis, describes the apparent force that arises when an object that is moving is viewed in a reference frame that is rotating.
Deep Connections: Water Masses
Water masses are layers of water distinguished by a particular temperature and salinity. Understanding how water masses form and move around is critical in understanding global climate.