Physical oceanography is the study of the physical processes affecting and being driven by the Earth's oceans, including:

• ocean currents, including:
  • wind-driven surface currents [see Upwelling]
  • geostrophic currents [see Coriolis effect]
  • Thermohaline circulation
• Water masses [see also North Atlantic Deep Water]
• Tides [see also Tidal resonance, Tidal locking]
• stability of the water column [see Density (sea water)]
• mixing and turbulence [see fluid dynamics]