OEAS 604 Introduction to Physical Oceanography Eileen Hofmann John Klinck Chet Grosch

Reading for Introductory Class Chapter 1: Introduction to Physical Oceanography – Talley et al. (2011) Chapter 2: Ocean dimensions, shapes and bottom materials – Talley et al. (2011)

Two Divisions of Physical Oceanography DESCRIPTIVE – description of the state of the ocean based on observations which are reduced to a summary or statement of the characteristic features of the ocean DYNAMICAL (theoretical) – apply laws of physics and use force balances and process to determine why and how the state of the ocean develops

Two Divisions of Physical Oceanography DESCRIPTIVE – Use observations and numerical model output to provide quantitative descriptions of oceanic flow Descriptive oceanography relies on understanding the processes that govern heat and salt content and distribution (density) in the ocean (thermodynamics) DYNAMICAL – Use theoretical studies and process-based numerical model experiments to understand what governs fluid flow in the ocean

Approach Observations are used to determine what features need explanations Laws of physics are used to derive equations that give balance of forces Solve equations to learn how motions behave in space and time Iterate between observations and theory to develop understanding and predictive capability

Historical Background Most knowledge of physical oceanography derived from observations and theories from past 100 years Knowledge of circulation goes back much longer Descriptive physical oceanography goes back to 1700s – voyages of Captain Cook Location of Gulf Stream known since late 1700s – Benjamin Franklin

Franklin-Folger map of the Gulf Stream (Richardson, 1980, Science, Reprinted in Talley et al., 2011)

Background – Descriptive Physical Oceanography First systematic treatment of physical oceanography was by Matthew Fontaine Maury in about 1850 Developed charts of ocean circulation by combining available hydrographic data and observations Late 1800s and early 1900s several major oceanographic expeditions – HMS Challenger ( ), Meteor ( ), HMS Discovery (1930s)

Background – Dynamical Physical Oceanography The basis for much of theory in physical oceanography comes from Newton (1687) and Laplace (1775) Major advances in theoretical development were made by Gustav Ekman (1905), Carl Gustaf Rossby and Wilheim Bjerknes (1930s) Modern dynamical oceanography has origins in work by Harald Sverdrup and Henry Stommel in 1940s and 1950s Development of large field programs in 1960s and 1970s provided observational basis needed to evaluate theoretical understanding

Course Focus Average large-scale ocean circulation Also consider coastal circulation, estuarine circulation, waves, tides, diffusive and turbulent processes Include climate effects and interactions with atmospheric system Consider ocean circulation processes a range of space and time scales

Time and space scales associated with physical oceanographic processes (Talley et al., 2011)

Satellite-derived sea surface temperature Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument (Talley et al., 2011)

Circulation Background Bathymetry of ocean basins is important to understanding of ocean circulation Earth is about 70% water, 30% land Most land is in the northern hemisphere – ratio of water to land is greatest in southern hemisphere Major ocean basins are divided by land boundaries and separated by ridges within basins – Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic Circumpolar ocean – Southern Ocean

World elevation map based on ship soundings and satellite altimeter derived gravity (Data from Smith & Sandwell (1997), Becker et al. (2009), SIO (2008); reprinted in Talley et al., 2011).

Sea Floor Bathymetry (From Smith and Sandwell bathymetry data; satellite altimetry)

Sea floor age (millions of years) Black lines indicate tectonic plate boundaries (Müller et al.2008; reprinted in Talley et al. (2011)

From Chapter 1 Sverdrup, Johnson, Fleming Also see Table 1.4 in Knauss

Oceans Background If include Southern Ocean with ocean north of it the total ocean area is: – Pacific Ocean – 46% – Atlantic Ocean – 23% – Indian ocean – 20% – Rest is about 11% Smaller seas that are partially separated from ocean by land barriers – Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean

Areas of Earth’s surface above and below sea level as a percentage of the total area of Earth (in 100 m intervals). (Data from Becker et al. 2009; reprinted in Talley et al. 2011) See Table 1.4 in Knauss (8,848 m) (10,994 m)

Bathymetry Average ocean depth is about 4000 m Small relative to horizontal dimensions of ocean basins which are 5000 to 15,000 km Vertical dimension is distorted relative to horizontal dimension Other important features are – continental shelf – borders coast and extends seaward – shelf break/slope – important dynamically – Islands and seamounts

Schematic section of ocean floor Bathymetry measured along South Pacific ship track (Talley et al. 2011)

Ocean Basins Topography controls deep circulation Ridges determine deep water pathways and exchanges between ocean basins Sills control flow into ocean basins from marginal seas – Mediterranean, Norwegian Sea, Gulf of Mexico

Pacific Ocean Bathymetry Data from NGDC (2008); reprinted in Talley et al. (2011)

Atlantic Ocean Bathymetry

Data from NGDC (2008); reprinted in Talley et al. (2011) Indian Ocean Bathymetry

Data from NGDC (2008); reprinted in Talley et al. (2011) Arctic Ocean Bathymetry

Data from NGDC (2008); reprinted in Talley et al. (2011) Southern Ocean Bathymetry

Next Class Matlab Introduction – Information posted on class website Ocean and Atmospheric Circulation – No assigned reading