Hi, From what i understand slicks of calm water are caused when ocean currents diverge. To facilitate a study of marine phylogeography, I need to know how stable slicks are both in time and space, ie are they in a predictable location over geological time and from year to year. Also does anyone have any idea where to find maps covering the s.e asia and s.w pacific regions that detail ocean currents and possible locations of slicks. Being new to this particular field, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
I think most of the equatorial currents are stable, like the N. Atlantic equatorial currents. Try this map: http://earth.usc.edu/~stott/Catalina/images/Oceanography/surface currents.jpg Possible slicks might include an area immediately east of Brazil's eastern bend, and the area east of New Guinea. I wouldn't want to take shots in the Indian Ocean, though, since some of the currents reverse annually. If you take a look at thermographic images, the whole Gulf area and the Caribbean look like stable places. So does Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, and Gulf of Tonking, and part of the S. China Sea.
but ocean slicks are quite small right? how would you go about identifying their location (or likely location) at a practical resolution ie enough detail to hop in a boat and go look at them? it wouldnt be enough just to rely on maps of currents would it? im guessing satellite imagery would be necessary but that would probably be prohibitively expensive (another guess). so many questions, thanks for the help.
