Surface currents in operational oceanography: Key applications, mechanisms, and methods

This paper reviews physical mechanisms, observation techniques and modelling approaches dealing with surface currents on short time scales (hours to days) relevant for operational oceanography. Key motivations this article include fundamental difficulties in reliable measurements the persistent lack of a widely held consensus definition currents. These problems are augmented by fact that various methods observe model ocean yield very different representations current. We distinguish between four applicable definitions currents; (i) interfacial current, (ii) direct wind-driven (iii) boundary layer (iv) an effective drift Finally, we discuss challenges synthesising data sources - i.e. observational – take view predictability concluding arguments parts circulation exhibit useful context.