Oceanography For Meteorologists

It is well recognised that oceans exercise a profound influence upon the climates of the world and upon the larger and smaller features of the atmospheric circulation which together determine the weather; and also, that the atmosphere controls the oceanic circulation. The interaction, however, is quite complex. With a view to explain the intricacies involved in this interaction, this book deals with all such areas of physical oceanography that have bearing upon problems of the atmosphere. The heat budget of the oceans and of the ocean currents—being of the greatest importance to the atmosphere, is discussed in detail, after describing the necessary physical properties of sea water, including salinity, temperature, density, pressure, etc. Theories of the large-scale ocean currents and of the wind-driven currents have been included, and water masses and currents of the different oceans of the world have been discussed. The text is aptly illustrated through graphs and diagrams and enriched with tables of useful scientific data.