Physics of Currents in Oceans, Seas and Lakes

Students of oceanographic branches of studies have been taught the theory of sea currents as currents related to wind or caused by heterogeneities of the density field of seawater. The author shows that more than 250 years ago, I. Kant hypothesized that the tidal forces of the Moon and the Sun form currents along the Equator, directed from the east to the west, which are strong enough to slow down the rotation of the Earth because of friction at the bed. Forty years ago, Agafonova E.G., Galerkin L.I., and Monin A.S. showed that thermohaline currents are so small that they cannot place any significant role in the sea dynamics. More than 70 years ago, Stockman V.B. showed that the dynamic method cannot be used to calculate currents in the Caspian Sea, they can be studied only with the use of hydrometric current meters. More than 50 years ago, E.G. Nikiforov showed that wind currents are wave transfer of wind waves. About 40 years ago, S.S. Lappo declared: "A wave stage has set in the studies of the nature of currents in the oceans." This book is intended for all who are interested in the processes taking place in reality.