PHYSICS
2300. Introductory Oceanography. Fall
2015
Instructor: Dr. Iakov (Yakov) Afanassiev
Office: Physics C-4065
email: afanai at mun.ca
Course Times: Slot 06 M-T-R 13:00-13:50 pm, Room C2045
Office Hours: TBD
Web Page: http://www.physics.mun.ca/~yakov
Evaluation Scheme:
1. Mid-Term 20%
2. Assignments 20%
3. Term Paper 20%
4. Final Exam 40%
The assignments will be a combination of calculations and reports based upon reading. The tests will follow the model of the assignments requiring some simple calculations and asking the students to demonstrate both a knowledge and understanding of the material provided.
Textbook:
A new textbook Physical Oceanography: A short course
for beginners by
Y. D. Afanasyev
is now available
from CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/6426337
(and from Amazon).
ISBN-13: 978-1535312387
ISBN-10: 1535312386
Oceanography is a vast
science, and beginners often feel overwhelmed by the number and variety of
different topics. This book presents a distilled version of physical
oceanography by providing physical insight into the circulation of the Earth’s
oceans. A consistent view of the circulation is presented using only simple
mathematics and an intuitive approach; however, hints to various phenomena are
given for those who are willing to explore beyond this book. The book also
contains an elementary introduction to fluid mechanics.
This book is written at a mathematical level appropriate for
undergraduate students in oceanic and climate science.
CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/6426337
Topics::
1. Formation of the Oceans (origin of atmosphere and ocean, ocean basin formation and plate tectonics, hydrostatics, isostasy)
2. Properties of Seawater (physical and chemical properties, equation of state and nonlinearity, density and water structure)
3. Elementary dynamics of water on the rotating Earth (Coriolis effect, inertial motion)
4. Currents with and without friction (hydrostatic dynamics, geostrophy, Ekman dynamics)
5. Atmosphere and Ocean general circulation (large scale wind, oceanic gyres, upwelling, El Nino, deep ocean circulation)
6. Ocean waves (gravity waves, internal waves, Kelvin and Rossby waves)
7. Tides
8. Marine Ecology and Biological productivity