Ocean physics

Physical oceanography includes a broad range of processes, lasting from seconds to days to centuries and occuring over the scale of centimeters to thousands of kilometers. Transfers of momentum, heat and salt occur within the ocean and across the air-sea interface on all of these space and time scales. Researchers study processes such as turbulent eddies, coastal currents and ocean currents and how they interact.

• Studies of estuary water circulation answer pollution questions
  
  
• Deadly rip currents are more common than rare
  
  
• Nearshore research focuses on coastal dynamics
  
  
• Gliders collect data in coastal waters
  
  
• Ocean mixing
  
  
• Winter storms and wave heights escalating off northwest U.S. coast
  
  
• Modeling coastal currents
  
  
• Mapping currents with radio waves