EARTH 421 -- Introduction to Physical Oceanography

Beginning with the Winter 2012 term, this course will be known as EARTH 421; in Winter 2011 it was known as GEOSCI 421

This course is cross-listed as AOSS 421 and ENVIRON 426

Winter term 3 credit course

The course is intended primarily for advanced undergraduate students and beginning graduate students.

I taught this course for the first time in the Winter 2011 term.

34 students took the course, from CoE, LSA, and PiTE. There were 14 graduate students and 20 undergraduates.

The course will be offered again during the Winter 2012 term.

Course description:

This

EARTH 421 -- Introduction to Physical Oceanography

Beginning with the Winter 2012 term, this course will be known as EARTH 421; in Winter 2011 it was known as GEOSCI 421

This course is cross-listed as AOSS 421 and ENVIRON 426

Winter term 3 credit course

The course is intended primarily for advanced undergraduate students and beginning graduate students.

I taught this course for the first time in the Winter 2011 term.

34 students took the course, from CoE, LSA, and PiTE. There were 14 graduate students and 20 undergraduates.

The course will be offered again during the Winter 2012 term.

Course description:

This course examines the fundamentals of physical oceanography; the physical properties of the ocean and water masses; circulation of the atmosphere; wind-driven and buoyancy-driven ocean circulation; tides; surface and internal waves; eddies; and mixing.

If you take this course you will understand:

--the distribution of oceanic temperatures and salinities

--why stratification and rotation are so important for oceanic (and atmospheric) dynamics

--what the forces are that drive oceanic motions

--why the ocean is so important for Earth's climate

Homework sets will emphasize concepts as well as datasets from ocean models, in-situ instruments, and remotely sensed datacourse examines the fundamentals of physical oceanography; the physical properties of the ocean and water masses; circulation of the atmosphere; wind-driven and buoyancy-driven ocean circulation; tides; surface and internal waves; eddies; and mixing.

If you take this course you will understand:

--the distribution of oceanic temperatures and salinities

--why stratification and rotation are so important for oceanic (and atmospheric) dynamics

--what the forces are that drive oceanic motions

--why the ocean is so important for Earth's climate

Homework sets will emphasize concepts as well as datasets from ocean models, in-situ instruments, and remotely sensed data