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 ]
  • geostrophic currents [see ]
  • Thermohaline circulation
• Water masses [see also ]
• Tides [see also Tidal resonance, ]
• stability of the water column [see ]
• mixing and turbulence [see ]
• physical features and processes on the ocean floor: oceanic trench, continental slope, continental shelf, abyssal plain, oceanic ridge, black smokers, hydrothermal circulation, seamount, atoll, and others.