In oceanography, densely packed, irregularly oval- shaped high and low pressure centers roughly 400 km (240 miles) in diameter in which current intensities are typically tenfold greater than the local means.
Any process or series of processes by which parcels of ocean water with different properties are brought into intimate small-scale contact, so that molecular diffusion erases the differences between them.
Waves generated by seismic activity.
Roll circulations approximately aligned with the surface stress vector that frequently occur in the upper boundary layer of oceans or lakes. Although similar in form to atmospheric longitudinal roll vortices, Langmuir circulations are thought to be driven by nonlinear interactions between the surface gravity wave field and the larger-scale turbulent motions within the mixed layer. They are sometimes called windrows because they form lines of surface debris or bubbles in their surface convergence zones. Their spatial scale is related to the depth of the mixed layer and their characteristic velocity is on the order of 8u*, where u* is the friction velocity in water. As a result of this scaling, Langmuir circulations generally require surface winds of at least 8 m s-1 in order to form. See coherent structures, longitudinal rolls.
(Also called littoral current.) The resultant current produced by waves being deflected at an angle by the shore. In this case the current runs roughly parallel to the shoreline. The longshore current is capable of carrying a certain amount of material as long as its velocity remains fairly constant; however, any obstruction, such as a submarine rock ridge or a land point cutting across the path of the current, will cause loss of velocity and consequent loss of carrying power.
The global recirculation of water masses that determines today's climate.
An ascending motion of subsurface water by which water from deeper layers is brought into the surface layer and is removed from the area of upwelling by divergent horizontal flow.