Vallis, G.K. Atmospheric and ocean fluid dynamics: fundamentals and large-scale
circula- tion. ... “Geo”physical Fluid Dynamics... not only from this Earth. JNR ...
MT5809: Advanced Fluid Dynamics
J.N. Reinaud
School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St Andrews
• Assessment: 2.5h examination (100% of the course assessment).
• Material: ⊲ Essential material: Hand-outs & http://www-vortex.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/∼jean/MT5809.html ⊲ Further reading: on short loan at the Maths/Phys library ∗ Vallis, G.K. Atmospheric and ocean fluid dynamics: fundamentals and large-scale circulation. ∗ Gill, A.E. Atmosphere-ocean dynamics. ∗ Pedlosky, J. Geophysical fluid dynamics.
JNR
MT5809
3/10
Module objectives : Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Vortices (atmospheric cyclone)
Waves (in the atmosphere)
JNR
MT5809
4/10
JNR
MT5809
5/10
JNR
MT5809
6/10
Module objectives : Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
Jets &Vortices (Gulf stream)
Waves (inside the ocean) JNR
MT5809
7/10
JNR
MT5809
8/10
JNR
MT5809
9/10
“Geo”physical Fluid Dynamics... not only from this Earth
JNR
MT5809
10/10
Syllabus • Overall Aim: Examine how the two basic effects of rotation and density stratification control large-scale fluid flows in Nature (e.g. the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, and other planetary atmospheres). • This builds on basic fluid dynamics — in particular inviscid (inertia-dominated) and incompressible (quiet!) fluid dynamics. • We’ll start simple and then consider the effects of ⊲ rotation, ⊲ density stratification, ⊲ rotation AND density stratification combined. • We’ll learn about inertial waves, internal waves, inertia-gravity waves, Rossby waves, balance, potential vorticity, coherent structures, jets. • This course offers an opportunity to apply a variety of mathematical skills acquired over the past three years to an important, topical and interesting research area. • This will help you to appreciate the complexity of geophysical fluid dynamics and the great challenge in predicting weather, ocean currents and climate change.
