Evolution of Physical Oceanography: Scientific Surveys in Honor of Henry Stommel

The influence of Henry Stommel on the development of physical oceanography over the past four decades has been immense. Although he is best known as a major generator of modern concepts of ocean circulation, his research interests have encompassed much of physical oceanography, and the colleagues he influenced have explored every ocean, literally and figuratively. In this volume, comprehensive surveys trace the development of major oceanographic fields since Stommel began his professional life and summarize the state of these subjects now—they cover "where we are and how we arrived, what is known and seems probable, and what seem now to be the key questions."

The book opens with five brief essays offering personal reminiscences of Henry Stommel and assessments of his scientific contributions, written by Arnold B. Arons, George Veronis, Raymond B. Montgomery, G. E. R. Deacon, and F. C. Fuglister. It then presents eighteen invited survey articles, grouped into four sections:

General Ocean Circulation: deep circulation of the world ocean (Bruce A. Warren), the water masses of the world ocean (L. V. Worthington), mid-depth circulation of the world ocean (Joseph L. Reid), the Gulf Stream System (N. P. Fofonoff), dynamics of large-scale circulation (George Veronis), equatorial currents (Ants Leetmaa, Julian P. McCreary, Jr., and Dennis W. Moore), and estuarine and continental-shelf circulation in the Middle Atlantic Bight (Robert C. Beardsley and William C. Boicourt).

Physical Processes in Oceanography: small-scale mixing processes (J. S. Turner), internal waves and small-scale processes (Walter Munk), long waves and ocean tides (Myrl C. Hendershott), low-frequency variability of the sea (Carl Wunsch), the amplitude of convection (William V. R. Malkus), and varieties of biological oceanography (J. H. Steele).

Techniques of Investigation: ocean instruments and experimental design (D. James Baker, Jr.), geochemical tracers and ocean circulation (W. S. Broecker), and laboratory models and analogues of ocean circulation (Alan J. Faller).

Ocean and Atmosphere: air-sea interaction (H. Charnock) and oceanic analogues of large-scale atmospheric motions (Jule G. Charney and Glenn R. Flierl).