Fall, 2015

AOSC 420/670 Physical Oceanography

Physical oceanography refers to the study of ocean dynamics and physics, a field that has grown tremendously in importance due to the critical role the ocean plays in the earth’s climate and due to the improvement in observing systems. This course provides a quick overview covering observational oceanography (first half) and some theory and related chemistry and biology (second half). We begin with a discussion of the chemical properties of seawater. Then we review ocean observations and measurement systems, including remote sensing. This is followed by an exploration of the distribution of currents, temperature, and salinity, including identification of major water masses and how they are formed (which leads us to the issue of surface fluxes and heat transport). We also review the water properties and circulation at high latitude. The processes occurring in the coastal zone are of particular interest because of their productivity and economic impact.

The second half of the course uses ocean dynamic principles to develop an understanding of aspects of the observed ocean: western boundary currents, the ocean thermocline, ENSO, surface waves and tides and some related topics. The second half also gives us a chance to explore the connection between ocean circulation and its biological and chemical properties, finally leading to a discussion of the ocean’s role in climate variability.

Instructor: Jim Carton (carton@atmos.umd.edu, 5-5391, CSS 3413)

Class-time: MW 3:15-4:30pm

Classroom CSS2416

Matlab help: Ligang Chen (lchen2@umd.edu)

Method of distributing material: googledocs and elms (if I can figure it out)

Textbooks: we refer to several, but rely heavily on course notes.

Assignments/grading:

1) seven Assign.s (5 for AOSC420) due at 1-2week intervals. 50%

2) take-home midterm 20%

3) take-home final examination 30%

Schedule (Assign. due dates are marked in red)

Week 1 Introduction	Monday September 1 Labor Day	Wednesday September 3 Introduction
Week 2 Physics/Chemistry	Monday September 8 Introduction	Wednesday September 10 Physics/chemistry basics. (T2)
Week 3 Instruments	Monday September 15 In situ In situ ocean instrumentation.	Wednesday September 17 Passive Remote sensing of the oceans.  Assign. 1 due
Week 4 Water masses 1	Monday September 22 Active remote sensing of the oceans.	Wednesday September 24 Water masses 1 (T14-16) (T6,7)
Week 5 Water masses 2	Monday September 29 masses II:   Indian Ocean (T11-13) Pacific (T5,T8-10)	Wednesday October 1 Tides Assign. 2 due
Week 6 At the edges	Monday October 6 Heat/freshwater budgets and surface fluxes (T18)	Wednesday October 8 this was a catchup lecture
Week 7 Mixing and Diffusion	Monday October 13. Estuaries	Wednesday October 15 Surface waves & sediment transport. Assign. 3 due
Week 8 Dynamics A	Monday October 20 Introduction to mixed layers, entrainment, etc. (T3-4)	Wednesday October 22 --- no class
Week 9 Dynamics B	Monday October 27 Ocean Dynamics I: Subtropical gyre dynamics.Midterm handed out	Wednesday October 29 Ocean Dynamics 2: ventilation, AMOC Midterm due
Week 10 Tropics !	Monday November 3 catchup lecture	Wednesday November 5 Ocean biology I Assign. 4 due
Week 11 Biology	Monday November 10 Ocean biology II	Wednesday November 12 --- no class
Week 12 Carbon	Monday November 17   ocean biology III	Wednesday November 19 Carbon cycle Assign. 5 due
Week 13 Paleo-ocean	Monday November 24  Tropics (T19) .	Wednesday November 26 no class -- day before Thanksgiving
Week 14	Monday December 1 Midlatitude variability	Wednesday December 3 paleoclimate 1 Assign. 6 due
	Monday December 8 paleoclimate 2.	Wednesday December 10 (last class) paleoclimate 3 Assign. 7 due Party!
	December 12	December 16 Final Examination