Physical Oceanography Division

The Physical Oceanography Division (PhOD) is a part of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) together with the Ocean Chemistry and Hurricane Research Divisions. The Physical Oceanography Division carries out interdisciplinary scientific investigations of the physics of ocean currents and water properties, and on the role of the ocean in climate, weather, and ecosystems. The tools used range from sensors on deep ocean moorings to satellite-based instruments to measurements made on research and commercial shipping vessels and autonomous vehicles and include data analyses and numerical model as well at theoretical approaches.

Some major areas of research are:

• The dynamics and variability of ocean currents;
• The redistribution of heat, salt and momentum through the oceans;
• The interactions between oceans, climate, and coastal environments.
• The influence of climate changes and of the ocean on extreme weather events.

These studies have important applications to ecosystems, hurricanes and global climate. To learn more about our work, please click the links on the left or the pictures on the right.