The ultimate goal of the Program for the Exploration of the Eastern Mediterranean (POEM) is to reach a comprehensive knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological oceanography of the Eastern Mediterranean. Such knowledge is an essential basis for environmental management, resource exploration, and marine operations. The overall scientific objectives are to: (1) describe the physical phenomena and quantify their kinematics; (2) define basic dynamical processes; and (3) construct physical models suitable for general ocean scientific studies and applications.