Some advances in understanding of the general circulation of the Pacific Ocean, with emphasis on recent U.S. contributions

Lynne D. Talley

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, La Jolla, California

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Background for Recent Pacific Circulation Studies
• 3. Modern Observational Basis for the General Circulation
• 4. Observational Tests of General Circulation Dynamics
  • 4.1 Geostrophy
  • 4.2 Ekman Forcing
  • 4.3 Buoyancy Forcing
  • 4.4. Sverdrup Balance
  • 4.5. Stratified Circulation
  • 4.6. Abyssal Circulation
  • 4.7. Deep Tropical Circulation
  • 4.8. Eddy Diffusivity
  • 4.9. Variability of the Circulation
  • 4.10. Heat, Mass, and Freshwater Transports
• References