12. Image Credits

Chapter 1:
What are ocean currents and why are they important?

1. Topic Overview

Questions to ponder

Sailing in rough weather.
Photo: Rick Tomlinson Photography
Reproduced with permission
Oil tanker.
Photo: R. Moran
Wikimaedia Creative Commons
Last access: 18.08.2008
Eggborough Power Station.
Photo: Mr T.
Geograph
Last access: 14.08.2008
licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Winter landscape.
Photo: V. Byfield
Trichodesmium bloom.
Photo: D. Ohnemus
D. Ohnemus
Last access: 19.08.2008
Reproduced with permission.
Sea Turtle.
Photo: G. McFall, OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP), University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
NOAA Photo Library
Last access: 19.08.2008

Sea ice paradox: photographs and figures in pop-ups

The Noorderlicht sails through sea ice during the 2007 Art/Science Expedition.
Cape Farewell
Last access: 21.04.2009
2007 Arctic Sea Ice from AMSR-E with Greenland in Foreground.
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
Publisher: NASA GSFC
Last access: 21.04.2009
2007 Arctic Sea Ice from AMSR-E with Alaska in Foreground (Animation).
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
Publisher: NASA
Last access: 20.04.2009
Surface currents in the Arctic.
Euro-Argo/V.Byfield
Publisher: National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Last access: 25.04.2009

Bottom image

Bloom in the Baltic.
MERIS
ESA
Last access: 28.04.2009

1.2 - Nike Trainers and Rubber Ducks

Nike trainer cartoons

Nike trainer cartoons, map and rubber duck photo.
V.Byfield
NOCS

1.3 - Rivers in the Sea

Current maps

The Gulf Stream. Ocean Surface Currents
Joanna Gyory, Arthur J. Mariano, Edward H. Ryan
CIMAS, University of Miami
Last access: 01.09.2009
The Canary Current. Ocean Surface Currents
Joanna Gyory, Arthur J. Mariano, Edward H. Ryan
CIMAS, University of Miami
Last access: 01.09.2009
Transport by currents
Paolo Cipollini
NOCS

1.4 - How Currents affect us (1)

Shipping and marine offshore industries

Cargo Ship passing through Southport near the mouth of the Cape Fear River
Dincher
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 01.09.2009
Voe Viking cable laying
Delta Marine
Delta Marine
Last access: 01.09.2009
Offshore operations depend on timely ocean data
NASA News Feature
NASA JPL
Last access: 03.09.2009
Dive buddy in deep green kelp forest
Ed Bierman, Redwood City, USA.
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 03.09.2009

Ocean forecasts

North Atlantic forecasts 20/8-2/9 2008: Current velocity, SST and salinity maps
MERCATOR Ocean
MERCATOR
Last access: 22.08.2009

Fisheries and aquaculture

Algal bloom in the English Channel
ESA image archive
ESA
Last access: 24.08.2009
Full image (528 K)
Mussels killed by harmful algal bloom
Oceanography
University of Cape Town
URL: n/a
Last access: n/a
Fishing in Ghana
Barbara Walker,
Institute for Social, Behavioral and Economic Research (ISBER), University of California, Santa Barbara
Last access: 03.09.2009
Meroplankton: Larvae of lobsters, crabs and mussels
V.Byfield
Oceans4schools, NOCS
Last access: 03.09.2009

Conservation and resource management

Sediment from land-based sources of pollution covers coral near a wharf in Kanakakai
Kathy Chaston
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation programme
Last access: 03.09.2009
Sea turtle killed by entanglement in fishing net
Fisheries Collection
NOAA Photo Library
Last access: 03.09.2009
Large Marine Ecosystems of the World
NOAA/UNDP Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
NOAA/
Last access: 03.09.2009
LME Management modules
NOAA/UNDP Large Marine Ecosystem Programme
NOAA/
Last access: 03.09.2009
Chlorophyll map of the area of turtle migration from Costa Rica to the South Pacific gyre
JRC Ocean color portal (annotated by NOCS)
European Joint Research Centre, ISPRA
Last access: 28.08.2008
Leatherback movement in relation to ocean currents
Shillinger et.al.
PLOS Biology
Last access: 28.08.2008

Currents influence regional climate

West Bay, Mawson, Antarctica
Ray Hegarty
Panoramio, Google Maps
Last access: 03.09.2009
Scoresby Sund, Greenland
Georg Gollman
Panoramio, Google Maps
Last access: 03.09.2009
A warm day on Vanna island
Blackone
Panoramio, Google Maps
Last access: 03.09.2009
Aerial view of Limpopo River, Mozambique
Cary Humphries
Wikimedia
Last access: 03.09.2009
Morning fog coming from the Atlantic Ocean, near Sossusvlei, Namib desert, Namibia
Moongateclimber
Wikimedia
Last access: 03.09.2009
Global sea surface height anomalies in 1997 and 1999.
NASA-JPL
NASA
Last access: 30.08.2008

Currents and regional climate game

Regional climate graphics with thumbnail photos
V.Byfield
NOCS/Oceans4schools
Last access: 30.04.2009
SST background images
V.Byfield (images created from GHRSST global sea surface temperature data)
NOCS/Oceans4schools
Last access: 30.04.2009

1.5 - Understanding and predicting ocean currents

Oahu North Shore surfers getting close.
Stan Shebs
Wikimedia
Last access: 28.04.2009
Returning from a midnight walk .
V. Byfield/Cape Farewell
Output of Seatrack Web Model for southeast Baltic on 25 October 2005.
Andrey Kostianoy, Shirshow Institute of Oceanology/INTAS-MOPED

Residual surface currents from the ~1.8km High-Resolution Continental Shelf application of POLCOMS.
Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL), Liverpool
NERC/POL
Last access: 28.04.2009

Chapter 2: Wind-driven surface currents

2.1 Topic Overview

Map of global surface currents.
V. Byfield National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Monthly mean SST Charts from NOAA-AVHRR (Global).
National Environmental Satellite, DAta and Information Service (OSDPD)
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Last access: 01.05.2009

Quiz: Why the big difference?

Shipping Off Governor's Island, New York Harbor.
Edward Moran
Publisher: Vallejo Gallery
Last access: 26.04.2009
The Gulf Stream by Benjamin Franklin.
NOAA Central Library
NOAA Photo Library
Last access: 30.04.2009
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin.
National Science Foundation National Science Foundation
Last access: 30.04.2009
Gulf Stream SST map in quiz pop-up.
V.Byfield National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Produced with Bilko software from OSTIA SST data

2.2 Prevailing winds

Tall ship.
NOCS staff
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Wind ripples on larger waves.
G.D. Quartly
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Wind cartoon.
V.Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

2.3 Global wind and current patterns

Sea surface temperature and current maps.
V.Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

2.4 The Ocean Gyres

Current map.
V.Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Ocean gyre cartoon.
V.Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

2.5 The Southern Ocean

The clipper Red Jacket sailing through ice off Cape Horn on her passage from Australia to Liverpool August 1854.
Clipper Ship Collection
Australian Maritime Museum
Last access: 10.09.2009
Sailing through a storm in the Southern Ocean.
Rick Tomlinson
Rick Tomlinson Photography
Last access: 10.09.2009

Chapter 3: The global conveyor

3.1 Topic overview

Northcape Atlantic SST from satellites for January 2008.
V.Byfield National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Produced with Bilko software from OSTIA SST data

Quiz: Why is Murmansk ice free all year

Extracts from Ice Advisors’ diaries.
Ice Advisors
Publisher: Ice Advisors
Last access: 24.04.2009
Murmansk Commercial Seaport - Gallery.
Murmansk Commercial Seaport
Publisher: Murmansk Commercial Seaport
Last access: 24.04.2009
Northcape Current SST map in quiz pop-up.
V.Byfield National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Produced with Bilko software from OSTIA SST data

3.2 The global conveyor

Earth's Radiation Budget.
Stewart Cunningham
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Map of the wind driven surface circulation.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
The global thermohaline circulation.
Hugo Ahlenius
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Last access: 16.05.2009

3.3 The high latitude engine rooms

Vertical structure of Atlantic water.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
The North Atlantic Conveyor.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Modelled sea surface temperature.
Andrew Coward
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Satellite SST and currents.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
ASAR mosaic of Antarctica.
ESA Multimedia
European Space Agency
Last access: 29.10.2009
Coastal upwelling of cold water.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

3.4 The conveyor and global warming

Marine snow.
Richard Lampitt
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Map of global surface salinity.
Aquarius
NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre
Last access: 16.05.2009
The global carbon cycle.

UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Last access: 28.10.2009

Will rising temperature slow the conveyor?

Northward heat transport in the Atlantic.
H. Bryden/RAPID
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Northward heat transport in the Atlantic.
H. Bryden/RAPID
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Difference in surface air temperature between pre-industrial and year 2050 with global warming..
M.Vellinga and R. Wood
Met Office, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
Changes in precipitation with a complete shut-down of the Atlantic..
M.Vellinga and R. Wood
Met Office, Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research
Deploying moored instruments in the RAPID array.
RAPID Climate Change Programme
Natural Environment Research Council
Atlantic circulation at present + A possible future?.
RAPID Climate Change Programme
Natural Environment Research Council
Melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
NASA Top Story
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Last access: 28.10.2009

Chapter 4: Currents and life in the ocean

4.1 Topic overview

SeaWiFS: Gulf Stream.
The SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE
NASA Visible Earth
Last access: 11.09.2009
MODIS: Temperature and Chlorophyll.
NASA MODIS (AQUA) Ocean team.
NASA Earth Observatory
Last access: 13.9.09

Quiz pop-up

Photos of arctic birds.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Photo of predator.
Gary Hume
Cape Farewell
Chlorophyll and temperature maps.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton, derived from NASA MODIS-Aqua data.

4.2 Phytoplankton: the grass of the sea

Arctic food web.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Deep Ocean Cafe.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
North Atlantic Productivity.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Sunlight Cafe.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

4.3 Ocean deserts

Phytoplankton cells.
Russel Davidson
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Ocean chlorophyll map.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton, from NASA SeaWiFS data

4.4 The fertile upwelling regions

Sea surface temperature map.
Paolo Cipollini
National Oceanography Centre Southampton, from NASA MODIS data
Ocean chlorophyll map.
Paolo Cipollini
National Oceanography Centre Southampton, from NASA MODIS data

4.5 The Benguela Current large marine ecosystem (BCLME)

Namibian Fisheries catch.
Mick O'Toole
Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project
Dolphins feeding on sardines.
Oceanography Department
University of Cape Town
Fishing boatsnear Cape Town.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Diamond mining vessel dredging off Namibia.
Bonaparte Diamond Mines Nl
ABC News
Last access: 29.10.2009
Sea surface temperature for 3 Feb 2008.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Rock Lobster Walk-out.
Oceanography Department
University of Cape Town
Sulphur eruptions off the coast of Namibia.
Visible Earth
NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre
Last access: 29.10.2009

Chapter 5: Local currents

5.1 Topic overview

Beached Boat.
Dan Marsh
Wikimedia
Last access: 11.9.09
M2 tidal component.
TPXO6.2 Global Inverse
Earth and Space Research
Last access: 11.9.09

5.2 Tides and Tidal Currents

SeaGen.
Fundy
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 11.9.09
Severn Bore.
Graham Bloomfield
BBC
Last access: 11.09.09
Strait of Gibralter, Solitons.
The Lunar and Planetary Institute
The Lunar and Planetary Institute, NASA
Last access: 11.9.09

5.3 Rivers and Currents

MISR image, Mouth of the Amazon.
NASA/GSFC/JPL, MISR Team
NASA Visable Earth
Last access: 11.9.09
MODIS AQUA images showing chllorophyl concentration on and the natural colour Amazon plume.
NASA Earth Observatory
NASA Earth Observatory
Last access: 11.9.09
SeaWifs animation.
NASA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Last access: 11.9.09

Chapter 6: Measuring ocean currents

6.1 Topic overview

Jason Satellite.
NASA/TOPEX
TOPEX project
Last access: 12.9.09
Sea Surface Height.
NASA
NASA, GSFC, Remote Sensing Tutorial
Last access: 12.9.09
Argo float map.
Hjfreeland
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 12.9.09
RV James Cook.
Mike Conquer
NOCS
Tall Ships.
Wiliam Huggins
National Maratime Museam, Wikimedia
Last access: 12.9.09
Ocean Bottom Pressure.
GRACE
NASA/JPL
Last access: 12.9.09
Current Meter.
Rémi Kaupp
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 12.9.09
Dye in the Chicago River.
Knowledge Seeker
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 12.9.09
NOAA Safe Seas Drift Card.
NOAA Safe Seas
NOAA Safe Seas
Last access: 12.09.2009
ADCP Sensor Head.
NOAA
NOAA Ocean Explorer
Last access: 12.09.2009
1901 Cable Map.
Unknown Out of Copywrite
Wikimedia
Last access: 12.09.2009

Additional material

The Coriolis Effect

Coriolis movie.
Udi Aharoni
U-Tube
Last access: 29.10.2009

Prevailing Winds

Vertical circulation in the atmosphere.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Diagram of the main wind belts.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Meteosat Fulldisk Global Satellite Images.
EUMETSAT
NOAA-GOES/
Last access: 29.10.2009

Southern Ocean

Highs and lows in the Southern Hemisphere in 2001.
South African Weather Service
Wind speed maps.
David Cotton
National Oceanography Centre Southampton
Sea Surface Height variability map with Argo float positions.
Paolo Cipollini
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

Wind driven upwelling

Upwelling diagrams.
Val Byfield
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

More Upwelling - the Southern Ocean and elsewhere

SeaWiFS Image.
NASA SeaWiFS Project and Orbimage
NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre

Jason and the Argo Float

Argo float diagram and Argo float map.
International Argo Project Office
Argo Deployment.
Graham Quartly
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

Argo floats - operation and data

Argo 10-day float cycle.
International Argo Project Office
Argo float trajectory and data plots.
French Argo Programme
Coriolis, IFREMER

Geostrophic currents

Diagrams.
Paolo Cipollini
National Oceanography Centre Southampton

The Geoid

Global geoid image.
ESA - Kids
European Space Agency
Last access: 29.10.2009
The GRACE gravity model.
Asia-Pacific Data-Research Center
Oceanography Department, Texas A and M University
Last access: 29.10.2009

State variables of seawater

The phase diagram of pure water
Graph JoWi
Wikimedia Commons
URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phasendiagramm-Wasser-(farbe).svg, last access: 31.08.2026. Modified and supplemented by Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany.
In liquid water, most water molecules are ...
Graph
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany

The pressure

Left: Evangelista Torricelli’s experimental setup. Right: An artist’s impression of the experiment carried out by Torricelli.
Graph
Left: unknown source, modified by Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg. Right: unknown source.

The temperature

Examples of depth profiles of temperature t, salinity S and density σt.
Graph
Wilhelm Brennecke, Forschungsreise S.M.S. "Planet" 1906/7, III. Band Ozeanographie, Berlin 1909, 214 pp., plates accompanying Volume III, Plate 18.
Diagram of a reversing thermometer, before and after the tilting process.
Graph
Source unknown.
Left: A mercury reversing thermometer with its protective sheath.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Centre: The glass bulb contains the main thermometer and an auxiliary thermometer for measuring the temperature whilst reading the main thermometer.
Foto
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Right: The main reservoir and the loop of the overflow reservoir.
Foto
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Left: A CTD with a rosette of 24 water samplers on the working deck of the research vessel Meteor, May 1992.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Centre: A holder for three thermometers, which were rotated through 180° at the target depth.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Right: reading the mercury thermometers with a magnifying glass.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Bathythermograph Schema
Graph
Source unknown.
The bathythermograph. The device is 81 cm long and 12.5 cm wide.
Photo
Last access: 03.10.2026
The construction of a Pt100 sensor for oceanographic applications.
Graph
Unknown source.
Example of a thermistor in a glass bead.
Ahellwig
Wikimedia Commons
Last access: 03.10.2026
Left: An XBT (bottom right) with a carrying case and a safety pin (top) and a cable reel (bottom left), which is inserted into the carrying case.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Right: An XBT. The probe is 215 mm long and has a maximum diameter of 7 mm.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Thermistor in an XBT.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Left: An XBT deployment device in action.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Right: The monitor display of the on-board instrument following a measurement on the reseaSSrch vessel Meteor, 22 May 1992.
Photo
Rainer Reuter, University of Oldenburg, Germany