Physical Oceanography (Spring 2016)

MWF, 11.00 to 11.50, L+R 135

Course syllabus

This course is an introduction to Physical Oceanography. The primary focus of the course is on ocean circulation and how it impacts the Earth's climate system. We will begin by considering how we observe and model the ocean. We will then move on a basic overview of key dynamical balances in the ocean and the resulting flows. From there we will develop the theory behind the wind-driven gyre circulation and the global meridional overturning circulation. We will finish with more recent topics that are active areas of research, such as ocean variability and regional circulations.

Problem Sets

Problem Set 1
Problem Set 2
Problem Set 3
Problem Set 4

Notes

Week 1 notes
Some background on the equations of motion
Introduction to waves
Balanced motions notes

Week 1: What does the ocean look like?

For interest: Wunsch, Ch. 2
For lecture: Wunsch, Ch. 3 and/or M&P, Ch. 9.1-9.2

Lecture 1: Introduction: How do we observe the ocean? Slides
Lecture 2: Water mass distributions Slides
Lecture 3: How is the ocean forced? Slides
Background reading: Riser et al. (2016); Le Traon (2013)

Week 2: P.O. basics

Background reading: M&P, Ch. 7.1-7.3

Lecture 4: Rotation and stratification
Lecture 5: Pressure and density Slides
Lecture 6: Equation of state Slides

Week 3: Waves

Reading: Chelton and Schlax (1996)
Additional reading: Tulloch et al. (2009), Chelton et al. (2011)

Lecture 7: Wave basics and surface gravity waves
Lecture 8: Rossby waves Slides
Additional reading: Vallis, pages 229 - 241.
Lecture 9: Internal waves

Week 4: Balanced motions

Reading: Marshall and Plumb, Ch. 7; Vallis, 2.8 and 2.11;

Lecture 10: Geostrophic balance and thermal wind
Lecture 11: Ekman layers Slides
Lecture 12: Sverdrup balance Slides

Weeks 5 & 6: The wind-driven circulation

Reading: Marshall and Plumb, Ch. 10; (additional reading, Vallis, Ch. 14);

Lecture 13: The depth-integrated wind-driven circulation
Lecture 14: Western boundary layers Slides
Lecture 15: Inertial solutions

Lectures 16 & 17: Stratification and vertical structure of the wind-driven circulation

Weeks 7: The Southern Ocean

Reading: Olbers et al., Ant. Sci. (2004); Rintoul et al., in Ocean Circulation and Climate (ed. Siedler, Church and Gould) (2001)

Lecture 18: Baroclinic instability and eddy fluxes Slides
Lecture 19: Momentum balance of the ACC
Field trip: R/V Yellowfin!
Lecture 20: The Southern Ocean overturning circulation Slides
Reading: Marshall and Speer (2012)

Special lecture: ENSO Slides

Weeks 8 & 9: The meridional overturning circulation

Background reading: Vallis, Ch. 15
Additional reading: Gnanadesikan (1999)

Lecture 21: Convection and diffusive upwelling Slides
Lecture 22: Ocean energetics
Lecture 23: The pole-to-pole overturning Slides
L23 Reading: We will discuss Gnanadesikan (199) linked above.