ESS 228: Geophysics Fluid Dynamics (Winter 2017) [syllabus]
Lecture: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-10:50, Roland Hall 192
INSTRUCTOR

Professor Jin-Yi Yu
Office: 3315 Croul Hall
Phone: (949) 824-3878
Email: jyyu@uci.edu
http://www.ess.uci.edu/~yu/
DESCRIPTION

This course Introduces the student to atmospheric and oceanic fluid dynamics. Equations of motion for a rotating stratified fluid. Scaling analysis, potential vorticity dynamics, linear waves, energetics and instability theory with applications to the mean circulation and variability.

TEXTBOOKS

  • Adrian E. Gill"Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics", Academic Press.
  • J. R. Holton, "An introduction to Dynamic Meteorology", Academic Press.
    • SYLLABUS

    Week 1: Introduction and Review of Mathematical Tools
  • Mathematical tools and estimating with scale
  • Fundamental and apparent forces
  • [classnote #0: Introduction] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 1/12/2017
  • [classnote #1: Review] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 1/24/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Dynamic Meteorology (Ch1)

    Week 2: Basic Conservation Laws
  • Equations of motion, thermodynamic energy equation, Continuity equation
  • [classnote #2: Basic Conservation Laws] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 1/24/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Dynamic Meteorology (Ch2)

    Week 3: Applications of the Equations of Motion
  • Balanced (geostrophic, inertial, cyclostrophic, gradient) flows
  • Thermal wind balance
  • [classnote #3: Applications] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 1/24/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Dynamic Meteorology (Ch3)

    Week 4: Circulation, Vorticity, and Divergence
  • The Circulation theorem
  • Vorticity and potential vorticity
  • [classnote #4: Circulation and Vorticity] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 1/31/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Dynamic Meteorology (Ch4)

    Week 5: Waves in the Atmosphere
  • Perturbation Method
  • Gravity Wave, Rossby Wave, Kelvin wave
  • [classnote #5: Atmospheric Waves] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 2/9/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Dynamic Meteorology (Ch7)

    Mid-term - February 14
    Week 6: Adjustment Under Gravity
  • In a non-rotating system
  • Suggested Reading: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (Ch5)
  • [classnote #6-9: adjustments] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 3/9/2017
    Week 7: Adjustment Under Gravity
  • In a density-stratified fluid
  • Effect of rotation
  • Suggested Reading: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (Ch6 & Ch7)

    Week 8: Midlatitude Dynamics: Baroclinic Instabilities
  • Concept of normal mode
  • Continuously stratified atmosphere
  • Energetics of baroclinic waves
  • Suggested Reading: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (Ch12); Dynamic Meteorology (Ch6 & Ch8)

    Week 9: Ocean Circulation
  • Wind-driven circulation
  • Western Boundary currents
  • [classnote #10: ocean circulation] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 3/16/2017
  • [classnote #11: atmospheric general circulation] (PDF) (handout) Updated on 3/16/2017
  • Suggested Reading: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (Ch9)

    Week 10: Tropical Dynamics
  • Scale analysis of large-scale tropical motions
  • Equatorial wave theory
  • Suggested Reading: Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (Ch11); Dynamic Meteorology (Ch11)

    Final Exam - March 15