Chapter 1
Historical
Introduction
Oceanography of the General
Circulation to the Middle of the
Twentieth Century
BRUCE A. WARREN
INTRODUCTION
One observes what he can, devises concepts he thinks helpful, and uses what physics
he knows and computational facility he has to try to describe and make sense of the
ocean circulation. So, by the middle of the twentieth century, the oceanography of the
general circulation consisted mainly of (1) global maps of prevailing surface currents;
(2) sections and maps of water properties; (3) velocity and transport estimates made
from density measurements, the thermal-wind relation, and conjectured integration
constants, plus geopotential topographies relative to arbitrary pressure surfaces; (4) the
Bruce A. Warren, Scientist Emeritus, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
1
Historical
Introduction
Oceanography of the General
Circulation to the Middle of the
Twentieth Century
BRUCE A. WARREN
INTRODUCTION
One observes what he can, devises concepts he thinks helpful, and uses what physics
he knows and computational facility he has to try to describe and make sense of the
ocean circulation. So, by the middle of the twentieth century, the oceanography of the
general circulation consisted mainly of (1) global maps of prevailing surface currents;
(2) sections and maps of water properties; (3) velocity and transport estimates made
from density measurements, the thermal-wind relation, and conjectured integration
constants, plus geopotential topographies relative to arbitrary pressure surfaces; (4) the
Bruce A. Warren, Scientist Emeritus, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
1