Physics 332 - Policy - Spring 2008
This course covers the elements of geophysical fluid dynamics as applied
to the earth's atmosphere and ocean. An outline of the course is available outline.html.
The course will consist of lectures and some problem sessions. The
instructor will lecture on approximately three out of four class days.
In problem sessions the instructor will work with the students on
problem solutions.
There is no good, existing text for a course such as this - treatments
are either trivial or graduate level. I am shooting for an intermediate
level which gets to the essence of geophysical fluid dynamics, but
is comprehensible by someone with junior-level mathematics. Some material
will be extracted from the first semester text and extensive course
notes will be placed on this website. so that Appropriate graduate-level
texts will be placed on reserve in the library.
Grading will be based on homework assignments assignments.html
and on a paper, which will be presented orally and in writing. There
will be two takehome tests and no final exam. The percentages are
as follows:
| Activity | Percent grade |
| Homework | 25% |
| Takehome tests | 25% each |
| Paper | 25% |
| Total | 100% |
List of possible paper topics:
- Dynamics of el Niņo
- Tropical cyclogenesis
- Tropical-midlatitude teleconnections
- Role of aerosols in climate - Dan Bonin (?)
- Super greenhouse effect - Dominic Maes
- Arctic oscillation (or North Atlantic Oscillation)
- Dynamics of midlatitude storm tracks
- Sudden stratospheric warmings - Sonja Behnke
- Mesoscale convective systems - Will Walden N.
- Thermohaline circulation - Victor Alvidrez
- Madden-Julian oscillation - Michael Herman
The paper should be based on a literature search and should provide
a synthesis of our current state of understanding of the selected
topic. I expect of order 15 pages, double spaced. Use the referencing
convention of one of the popular journals, such as Journal of the
Atmospheric Sciences or Journal of Geophysical Research. Schedule
for paper:
- Choose topic - Monday, 4 February
- First draft for peer review - Monday, 24 March
- Class presentations and final copy due - 5-9 May
There are various interesting links which show weather and climate
information. Check out the following:
- NCAR/RAP Real Time Weather Data http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/
- National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
- Satellite-Derived Data http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/
- NOAA/PMEL TAO Mooring Site http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/
- Ocean Heat Content, Etc. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/cyclone/data/go.html
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On 15 Feb 2008, 16:15.