Fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session

This class introduces fluid dynamics to first year graduate students. The aim is to help students acquire an understanding of some of the basic concepts of fluid dynamics that will be needed as a foundation for advanced courses in atmospheric science, physical oceanography, ocean engineering, etc. The emphasis will be on fluid fundamentals, but with an atmosphere/ocean twist.

It is presumed that students will have had a course in classical mechanics and differential equations, but no previous fluid dynamics experience (students who suspect that they may be significantly over or under qualified should contact the instructor).

A basic understanding of vector and tensor notation and algebra is assumed, as is a basic understanding of wave kinematics (dispersion relations, group velocity, phase velocity, etc.). Specific applications of each will be covered in the course, but little introductory material will be given. Brief refresher lectures will be given outside of scheduled class time. It is also assumed that students will have a working knowledge of Matlab®. If a student is lacking in any of these areas, they will be expected to bring themselves up to speed (students should feel free to contact the instructor for guidance).

The course has four main components: 1) lectures, 2) reading assignments, 3) problem sets, and 4) short quizzes.

The lectures are intended to introduce key concepts and to set them into the context of geophysical problems when appropriate. The lectures by themselves will not constitute an adequate introduction to fluid dynamics, and must be supplemented by reading assignments. Lectures will periodically be supplemented by short films.

The primary textbooks will be Fluid Mechanics by P. Kundu and I. Cohen (2004) (hereafter KC04) and Introduction to Geophysical FluidDynamics by B. Cushman-Roisin (1994) (hereafter CR94). Both are strongly recommended for purchase. Three other useful texts are Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics by A. E. Gill (1982) (hereafter G82), Physical Fluid Dynamics by D. J. Tritton (1988) (hereafter T88), and An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology by J. R. Holton (1992) (hereafter H92). Another useful reference is the Online Publication: Price, James F. Topics in Fluid Dynamics: Dimensional Analysis, the Coriolis Force, and Lagrangian and Eulerian Representations. From time to time handouts from other sources will be provided in class or on the web. A basic guide to reading assignments is given in the readings section. More detailed reading assignments will be provided during class.

Problem sets will be assigned most weeks and will contribute significantly towards final grades. Homework assignments will be made during lectures and will be listed on the course web site. In general, late homework will not be accepted, although exceptions for extreme situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Very short quizzes will be given approximately once a week and will cover material not yet addressed in class. These quizzes will be based on reading assignments that will be given in class and are designed to motivate students to properly prepare for lectures. They will be given at the beginning of class and consist of a few true/false questions and one or two questions that require short calculations or written explanations. Answers to the quiz questions will be sought interactively from the students immediately upon completion of the quiz. The questions will provide a roadmap to the day’s lecture and will hopefully facilitate interaction amongst the students and between the students and the instructor.

There will be a mid-term examination, and there will be a final examination to be scheduled during the final exam period. Grading will be apportioned roughly 40% exam(s) and 60% problem sets. Quizzes will only be used for grading if a student is on the boundary between grades, or if a student systematically ignores or performs poorly on the quizzes.

Reading assignments will be made from KC04 and CR94. You should have a personal copy of KC04, and if you have the funds, a personal copy of CR94. Three additional books I find particularly useful are G82, T88, and H92. All books are on hold at the Lindgren Library and in the Physical Oceanography reading room.

Kundu, P. K., and I. M. Cohen. Fluid Mechanics. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004. ISBN: 9780121782535.

Cushman-Roisin, B. Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. New York, NY: Prentice Hall, 1994. ISBN: 9780133533019.

Gill, A. E. Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1982. ISBN: 9780122835223.

Tritton, D. J. Physical Fluid Dynamics. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition, 1988. ISBN: 9780198544937.

Holton, J. R. An Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1992. ISBN: 9780123543554.

Online Publication: Price, James F. Topics in Fluid Dynamics: Dimensional Analysis, the Coriolis Force, and Lagrangian and Eulerian Representations.

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