Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

This course gives you a deep understanding of the forces that shape the oceans and affect navigation. You will learn how global atmospheric circulation and pressure systems generate winds at planetary, regional and local scales, how winds, density and the Earth's rotation drive surface and deep currents, how winds, currents, waves and tides interact, and how to use all of this to plan efficient and safe routes, calculate drift and decide when to sail, alter course or stay in port.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course?

This short course connects atmospheric and ocean dynamics with practical decisions at sea. You will study pressure gradients, friction, density and the Coriolis effect, the general circulation of the atmosphere and the great wind belts, sea and land breezes and katabatic and anabatic winds, the formation of wind-driven currents, ocean gyres and thermohaline circulation, coastal and longshore currents, the influence of seabed relief, straits and capes, Ekman transport, upwelling and downwelling, and the combined effect of tides, currents and wind in estuaries, harbor entrances and channels.

What sets this course apart: a clear progression from physical principles to operational criteria for route planning, drift calculation, fuel consumption, anchoring and port maneuvers; applications to fishing, aquaculture, environmental monitoring and search and rescue; attention to rapid changes in sea state and the combinations of wind and current that create risk; the use of weather charts and oceanographic data from real cases; and a final module in which you build basic decision criteria for going to sea, continuing, returning or changing plans.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Physical principles: pressure gradients, friction, density, inertia and the Coriolis effect.
  • Winds at every scale: trade winds, westerlies, polar winds, breezes and katabatic winds.
  • Ocean currents: wind-driven currents, gyres, thermohaline circulation and coastal currents.
  • Interactions: Ekman transport, upwelling, wind against current and tidal streams in channels.
  • Navigation: route planning, drift, fuel consumption, anchoring and port maneuvers.
  • Decision criteria for sailing, continuing, returning or changing operations at sea.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of atmospheric and ocean dynamics applied to the study of marine winds and currents

  • 1.1. Basic concepts of the atmosphere, the ocean and general circulation as a foundation for understanding the movement of air and water at sea
  • 1.2. Differences between wind, surface current, deep current, drift and coastal circulation in ocean and coastal settings
  • 1.3. Physical principles governing the movement of air and water masses: pressure gradients, gravity, friction, density and inertia
  • 1.4. Influence of the Earth's rotation and the Coriolis effect on the direction and behavior of winds and currents at different latitudes
  • 1.5. The relationship between ocean-atmosphere exchange, energy transfer and the formation of dynamic patterns in the marine system
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Formation, behavior and classification of marine winds at global, regional and local scales

  • 2.1. General atmospheric circulation and its influence on the great wind belts over the world's oceans and seas
  • 2.2. Planetary winds, trade winds, westerlies and polar winds: features, distribution and relevance for the maritime environment
  • 2.3. Formation of regional and local winds: sea and land breezes, katabatic and anabatic winds and specific coastal effects
  • 2.4. The relationship between atmospheric pressure, fronts, lows, anticyclones and the evolution of wind over the sea surface
  • 2.5. Strength, direction, persistence and temporal variability of wind in coastal, ocean and port areas
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Surface and deep ocean currents: generation mechanisms, ocean circulation and regional dynamics

  • 3.1. Principles of wind-driven surface currents and their interaction with ocean basins and coastal configurations
  • 3.2. Major ocean currents and subtropical and subpolar gyres: organization, direction of flow and role in redistributing energy
  • 3.3. Density currents and thermohaline circulation: differences in temperature and salinity as drivers of deep ocean movement
  • 3.4. Coastal and longshore currents and transport processes on continental shelves and in shallow waters
  • 3.5. Influence of seabed relief, straits, capes, archipelagos and channels on the acceleration, deflection and confinement of currents
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Interaction between winds, currents, waves and tides in the dynamics of the marine and coastal environment

  • 4.1. Coupling between wind and surface current: momentum transfer, drift and the generation of complex dynamic patterns
  • 4.2. The link between persistent winds and upwelling, downwelling and Ekman transport in coastal and ocean areas
  • 4.3. Interaction between currents and waves: changes in height, direction, refraction and energy of the sea state
  • 4.4. Combined influence of tides, currents and wind in estuaries, harbor entrances, ports and navigation channels
  • 4.5. Effects of ocean-atmosphere interaction on extreme events, rapid changes in the sea and risk situations for navigation
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Practical application of marine winds and currents to navigation, safety and the planning of operations at sea

  • 5.1. Influence of winds and currents on route planning, drift calculation, fuel consumption and navigational efficiency
  • 5.2. Using current and wind information for port maneuvers, anchoring, entering channels and transiting complex coastal areas
  • 5.3. Applications in fishing, aquaculture, environmental monitoring, search and rescue and technical support operations at sea
  • 5.4. Assessing operational risks associated with strong currents, high winds and adverse combinations of marine conditions
  • 5.5. Drawing up basic decision criteria for departing, sailing, returning or modifying activities according to the dynamic marine environment
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

01Understand how winds and currents influence navigation, interpreting meteorological and oceanographic information to improve routes and anticipate risks within the limits of the vessel and the operating environment.
02Interpret weather maps and nautical charts to identify wind and current patterns, taking magnetic variation, drift and leeway into account and checking them against up-to-date forecasts.
03Use wind and current information to reduce fuel consumption, planning routes that minimize resistance and make the most of favorable flows, and adjusting speed to actual conditions.
04Anticipate and mitigate the adverse effects of weather and ocean conditions, adapting navigation to reduce exposure to dangerous situations.
05Apply knowledge of winds and currents to improve efficiency under sail, choosing sails and headings that maximize speed according to forecasts and conditions at sea.
06Apply knowledge of winds and currents to maritime search and rescue, estimating the drift of the search object from meteorological and oceanographic data to support search planning.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

01Oceanographic data analystprocessing and interpreting data for forecasting and navigation.
02Marine environmental consultantassessment of the impact of coastal and marine activities.
03Marine renewable energy techniciansupport for offshore wind and other marine energy projects.
04Route planning and weather routing assistant for shipping companies, yachts and regattas
05Marine resources managersustainable planning of fishing, aquaculture and coastal resources.
06Marine environmental educatoroutreach on ocean dynamics and their importance.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Marine Winds and Ocean Currents Course

Wind. It transfers momentum to the water through friction, while the Coriolis effect, the shape of the basins and differences in density determine the final direction and structure of the currents.

Persistent winds push the surface layer of the ocean and, combined with the Earth's rotation, produce Ekman transport, gyres and coastal upwelling. Module 3 and module 4 explain these processes.

Yes. It shows how to use winds and currents to choose routes, sails and headings, calculate drift and leeway, and decide when conditions make it advisable to change plans.

No. Module 1 introduces the necessary physical principles; basic physics and geography and some familiarity with nautical charts are enough.

Through practical exercises with weather charts and oceanographic data in each module and a final applied case in which you plan an operation taking winds and currents into account.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded, downloadable materials, discussion forums and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at recreational sailors and water-sports practitioners, students of oceanography and marine sciences, fishing and aquaculture professionals, coastal engineers and environmental consultants, and weather enthusiasts; basic knowledge of physics and geography, or practical experience of sea-related activities, and familiarity with nautical charts are recommended.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser able to play videos and open documents.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $164 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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