Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Details

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Course Details

Number G63.3001.001

Time Tuesday 9:30am-11:20am

Location Warren Weaver Hall 517

Instructor Shafer Smith
Warren Weaver Hall 916
Ext 8-3176
shafer@cims.nyu.edu

Website http://www.cims.nyu.edu/~shafer/teaching/gfd_fall10/
The website will serve as the repository for assignments, notes, announcements, etc...

Description Geophysical fluid dynamics is the branch of fluid dynamics that describes the large-scale flows in the atmosphere and oceans. These flows are characterized by the dominant role of planetary rotation and stratification, resulting in a dynamical regime that consists of a distinct set of circulations, waves and turbulence. In this course, students will be introduced to the elegant approximations and governing equations that describe these flows. Specific topics include: the advective derivative and conservation laws, vorticity and potential-vorticity dynamics, geostrophic and thermal wind balance, shallow water and quasi-geostrophic flows, gravity and Rossby waves, flow instabilities and turbulence.

Textbooks
Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics, G. Vallis (Cambridge 2006) - Required

Lectures on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, R. Salmon (Oxford, 1998)

Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics, Benoit Cushman-Roisin (Prentice Hall, 1994)

Atmosphere-ocean dynamics, A. E. Gill (Academic Press, 1982)

Fundamentals of geophysical fluid dynamics, J. McWilliams (Cambridge, 2006)

Geophysical fluid dynamics, J. Pedlosky (2nd Ed., Springer-Verlag, 1987)

Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics, J. Marshall and A. Plumb (Academic Press, 2008)

Office Hours By appointment/Open door

Grading Assignments 60%, Final project 30%, Class participation 10%

Assignments Problem sets will be assigned roughly every two weeks, and will be due two weeks from the time they are handed out.

Projects Near the end of the semester, each student will be required to give a lecture on a subject just beyond what we have covered in class, or on a mini research project. A brief written report will be required as well.

Prerequisites Basics in fluid dynamics would be useful, but are not required.

Number	G63.3001.001
Time	Tuesday 9:30am-11:20am
Location	Warren Weaver Hall 517
Instructor	Shafer Smith Warren Weaver Hall 916 Ext 8-3176 shafer@cims.nyu.edu
Website	http://www.cims.nyu.edu/~shafer/teaching/gfd_fall10/ The website will serve as the repository for assignments, notes, announcements, etc...
Description	Geophysical fluid dynamics is the branch of fluid dynamics that describes the large-scale flows in the atmosphere and oceans. These flows are characterized by the dominant role of planetary rotation and stratification, resulting in a dynamical regime that consists of a distinct set of circulations, waves and turbulence. In this course, students will be introduced to the elegant approximations and governing equations that describe these flows. Specific topics include: the advective derivative and conservation laws, vorticity and potential-vorticity dynamics, geostrophic and thermal wind balance, shallow water and quasi-geostrophic flows, gravity and Rossby waves, flow instabilities and turbulence.
Textbooks	Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics, G. Vallis (Cambridge 2006) - Required Lectures on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, R. Salmon (Oxford, 1998) Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics, Benoit Cushman-Roisin (Prentice Hall, 1994) Atmosphere-ocean dynamics, A. E. Gill (Academic Press, 1982) Fundamentals of geophysical fluid dynamics, J. McWilliams (Cambridge, 2006) Geophysical fluid dynamics, J. Pedlosky (2nd Ed., Springer-Verlag, 1987) Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics, J. Marshall and A. Plumb (Academic Press, 2008)
Office Hours	By appointment/Open door
Grading	Assignments 60%, Final project 30%, Class participation 10%
Assignments	Problem sets will be assigned roughly every two weeks, and will be due two weeks from the time they are handed out.
Projects	Near the end of the semester, each student will be required to give a lecture on a subject just beyond what we have covered in class, or on a mini research project. A brief written report will be required as well.
Prerequisites	Basics in fluid dynamics would be useful, but are not required.