The Journal of Physical Oceanography publishes research related to the physics of the ocean and to process operating at its boundaries. Theoretical and modeling studies are welcome, especially those that are linked to observations. Papers that investigate interactions with other components of the earth system (e.g., ocean-atmosphere, physical-biological, and physical-chemical interactions) as well as studies of other fluid systems (e.g., lakes and laboratory tanks) are also invited, as long as their focus is on understanding the ocean.

《物理海洋學雜志》發表了與海洋物理有關的研究，以及在其邊界上進行的處理工作。理論和模型研究是受歡迎的，特別是那些與觀測有關的。研究與地球系統其他組成部分(如海洋-大氣、物理-生物和物理-化學相互作用)相互作用的論文，以及對其他流體系統(如湖泊和實驗室儲罐)的研究也受到邀請，只要它們的重點是了解海洋。