GEOPHYS 711 : Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Science

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores geophysical fluid flow dynamics in the atmosphere and ocean. Rotation and stratification in the atmosphere and ocean lead to fascinating characteristics of geophysical fluid flow that will be explained mathematically and/or numerically. Topics include the general circulation, Hadley and midlatitude circulations in the atmosphere, Sverdrup balance and western boundary currents in the ocean, quasi-geostrophic model, waves, and instabilities. Students are expected to know the basics of fluid mechanics and vector calculus.

Course Overview

This course explores geophysical fluid flow dynamics in the atmosphere and ocean. Rotation and stratification in the atmosphere and ocean lead to fascinating characteristics of geophysical fluid flow that will be explained mathematically and/or numerically. Topics include the general circulation, Hadley and midlatitude circulations in the atmosphere, Sverdrup balance and western boundary currents in the ocean, quasi-geostrophic model, waves, and instabilities.

Delivery:
- 2 one-hour sessions a week of lectures and tutorials.
- 5 two-hour lab sessions in the semester.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: GEOPHYS 311 or Programme Coordinator approval

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere and oceans (Capability 1)
  2. Understand the main equations of geophysical fluids and their simplifications (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  3. Evaluate the main balances at play in the observed circulations (Capability 1 and 2)
  4. Analyse geophysical data (Capability 1 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Laboratories
Final Exam

Learning Resources

Book: Geoffroy Vallis: Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics. Cambridge University Press

Special Requirements

Not applicable

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 18 hours of lectures, 6 hours of tutorial, 24 hours of laboratories and lab-report writing, 48  hours of reading and thinking about the content and 24 hours of work on assignments.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/01/2020 03:03 p.m.