CLIM 750: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (Spring 2012)

Instructor: Barry Klinger (bklinger atgmu.edu),

Class web site: http://mason.gmu.edu/~bklinger/clim750home.html

Class meets Thu 10:30-1:15, Innovation 139.

Course Description:

Dynamics of waves and instability relevant to fluid motion in the ocean and atmosphere. Focus of the course is mathematical and physical concepts central to understanding how fluids such as the ocean and atmosphere evolve in time. Fundamentals and applications of rotating and nonrotating gravity waves, Rossby waves, stratified and unstratified systems. Fundamental concepts of dynamical instability, barotropic and baroclinic examples, generalized stability analysis and normal modes.

Organization and Brief Course Outline

Recommended Texts:

Gill, A.E.: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics, Academic Press, New York
Pedlosky, J.: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Springer-Verlag, New York
Pedlosky, J.: Waves in the Ocean and Atmosphere, Introduction to Wave Dynamics, Springer, New York
Vallis, G.: Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, New York

Homework and Matlab Demonstrations:

Trajectories in Surface Gravity Waves
Phase Speed and Group Speed
Internal Waves Density and Vertical Vel
Surface Wave Initial Value Problem

GMU Climate Dynamics Links

Climate Dynamics Curriculum
AOES Dept Home Page

Last modified: 15 Mar, 2012