Seafloor Topography and Ocean Circulation

Abstract

Seafloor topography influences ocean circulation in two basic ways. First, it steers ocean flows. Second, it provides barriers that prevent deep waters from mixing, except within deep passageways that connect ocean basins or in hydraulically controlled overflow regions. This paper explores the impact of both of these processes on ocean circulation. The examples highlighted here were among the broad range of topics explored at a workshop on "Ocean Circulation, Bathymetry, and Climate," held at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in October 2002. (8 figures, 27 refs.)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA423293

Entities

People

  • Edward Joseph Metzger
  • Robin Tokmakian
  • Sarah. T. Gille

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Databases
  • Deep Oceans
  • Deep Water
  • Geography
  • Grids
  • Military Research
  • Ocean Currents
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Ridges
  • Sea Water
  • Seabed
  • Terrain
  • Topography

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Economics
  • Oceanography.
  • Robotics and Automation.