Ocean Circulation and Modeling (Dartmouth)

Professor: GANGOPADHYAY, AVIJIT
PHY 645, 3 credits.
This course is an elective.
Course Webpage: n/a

This course is not currently available for registration.

Supports the following Option Areas:

Abstract:

This course is divided in two parts. In the first half of the course, students are introduced to the concepts of circulation, namely the wind-driven and the thermohaline components, the concepts of geostrophy, Sverdrup dynamics, Ekman, Munk and Stommel problems, two-layer dynamics, stratification, and thermal and salt diffusion. The potential vorticity concept is discussed in some detail with respect to its balance and generation/maintenance in the major western boundary current regions. The major features of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans are discussed from a circulation and dynamics perspective.

In the second half of the course, students learn the full set of primitive equations and the Bryan and Cox implementation of the Modular Ocean Model (MOM). As part of the numerical modeling effort, each student sets up a simple modeling exercise with MOM. Basin-scale modeling, regional modeling, and El Nino modeling are also covered. Students are also encouraged to learn about WOCE data sets over the Internet; data assimilation techniques are discussed in general overview framework.

Course work includes one research paper on modeling a particular problem and two rigorous take-home examinations.