Ocean Dynamics: propagating anomalies
Lecturer(s):
Description:
The participant will be introduced to the main concepts of Ocean Dynamics for rotating and stratified turbulent fluids. The course is structured around ten main topics, each to be covered in one day. Each topic will have a theoretical background, where fundamental concepts will be discussed, and a practical exercise, where a laboratory and/or computer exercise will be discussed, developed and applied. After completing the course the participant will have an intermediate knowledge of the major blocks underlying the dynamics of ocean circulation and mixing.
Programme information:
Day 1 – Surface waves
Theory
1.1 The inviscid equations of motion
1.2 Surface gravity waves: the Laplace equation
1.3 Sinusoidal solutions to the Laplace equation
1.4 Wave kinematics
1.5 Phase and group velocity
1.6 Waves in hydrostatic balance: the long wave approximation
1.7 The wave equation
Practical: Surface wave propagation
1.8 Numerical simulation of the wave equation in 1D and 2D
1.9 Shoaling, refraction, difraction and reflection
Day 2 – Internal waves
Theory
2.1 Buoyancy frequency
2.2 Internal gravity waves
2.3 Internal waves with rotation
2.4 Long waves at the interface of two fluids
2.5 Long waves in stratified fluids: normal modes
Practical: Internal waves
2.6 Buoyancy frequency computation
2.7 Sturm-Liouville problem, eigenvalues and eigenvectors
2.8 Decomposition of an internal wave field into normal modes
Day 3 – Effects of rotation
Theory
3.1 The Rossby adjustment problem
3.2 Transient free (Poincaré) waves
3.3 Boundary effects: Poincare and Kelvin waves
3.4 Bottom effects: topographic Rossby waves
Practical: Rotation-related motions
3.5 Inertial oscillations
3.6 Classical harmonic tidal analysis
Day 4 – Planetary waves
Theory
4.1 Equatorially trapped waves
4.2 Quasigeostrophic scaling for long waves
4.3 Quasigeostrophic Rossby waves
4.4 Analogy between topographic and planetary waves
Practical: Student-group projects (one project for every 2-3 students)
4.5 Forced inertial oscillations
4.6 Rossby adjustment problem and Poincaré waves
4.7 Kelvin and Rossby waves
4.8 Wave propagation in complex domains (including tsunamis)
Day 5 – Recent papers and wrap up
Theory
5.1 Discussion on recent papers
5.2 Course wrap up
Practical: Student-group projects (continued)
5.3 Student presentations
5.4 Course summary
Past course editions:
Number of hours:
Language:
English
Time:
Location:
Maximum number of places:
Lab or field work description:
It will include both laboratory experiments and program development and application. As described in the course information.
Special requirements:
Good background in Calculus and Physics. Good general programming background.
The student is encouraged to have previously participated in the “Ocean Dynamics: Steady Circulation” course.
Recommended reading:
- Csanady, G. T., 1982. Circulation in the coastal ocean. Reidel.
- Cushman-Roisin, B., and J. M. Beckers, 2009. Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics – physical and numerical aspects. Academic Press.
- Gill, A. E., 1982. Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. Academic Press.
- Kundu, P. K., Cohen I. M. Fluid Mechanics, 2nd edition. Academic Press.
- Pedlosky, J., 1987. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, 2nd edition. Springer.
- Pedlosky, J., 2003. Waves in the Ocean and Atmosphere – Introduction to wave dynamics. Springer.
Contact for further information:
For additional information, please contact the program coordinator at maria.pastor@barcelona-ocean.com
Fees:
Full price of this course is 450€. A reduced registration fee of 360€ is applied for early registrations (20 days before the opening of the course).
