CLIM 752: Ocean Circulation Theory (Spring 2009)

Homework and Exams

There will be a short problem set every week or two (together 30% of grade) , a final (40% of grade), and a short (approximately 1000 word) paper reviewing some topic of relevance to the course (30% of grade).

Brief Course Outline

1. Heat Transport and Streamfunctions: kinematics, Definitions, Observations
2. Review of wind-driven gyres: observation and theory
3. Three-dimensional barotropic flow
4. Surface properties and mixed layer
5. Subduction and Luyten-Pedlosky-Stommel theory
6. The Equatorial Undercurrent
7. Shallow Overturning: Tropical and Subtropical Cells
8. Eddies and turbulence
9. Review of "thermohaline circulation": observation and theory
10. Theories of thermohaline overturning strength
11. Mixing, buoyancy, wind, geography, and the deep meridional overturning
12. Multiple states and time variability of the deep meridional overturning