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 (assignment due dates are marked in red)

Week 1 Introduction	Monday August 31 Introduction	Wednesday September 2 Introduction
Week 2 Physics/Chemistry	Monday September 7 Labor Day	Wednesday September 9 Physics/chemistry basics. (T2)
Week 3 Instruments	Monday September 14 In situ In situ ocean instrumentation.	Wednesday September 16 Passive remote sensing of the oceans. Assignment 1 due
Week 4 Water masses 1	Monday September 21 Active remote sensing of the oceans.	Wednesday September 23 Water masses 1 (T14-16) (T6,7)
Week 5 Water masses 2	Monday September 28 masses II:   Indian Ocean (T11-13) Pacific (T5,T8-10)	Wednesday September 30 Tides Assignment 2 due
Week 6 At the edges	Monday October 5 Heat/freshwater budgets and surface fluxes (T18)	Wednesday October 7 catchup lecture Assignment 3 due
Week 7 Mixing and Diffusion	Monday October 12. Estuaries	Wednesday October 14 Surface waves & sediment transport.
Week 8 Dynamics A	Monday October 19 Mixed layers, entrainment, etc. (T3-4)	Wednesday October 21 Ocean dynamics I: Subtropical gyre. Assignment 4 due
Week 9 Dynamics B	Monday October 26 Ocean dynamics II: ventilation, AMOC Midterm given	Wednesday October 28 Ocean dynamics III tropical dynamics Midterm due
Week 10 Tropics !	Monday November 2 Ocean dynamics IV tropical dynamics	Wednesday November 4 Ocean biology I Assignment 5 due
Week 11 Biology	Monday November 9 Ocean biology II	Wednesday November 11 --- no class
Week 12 Carbon	Monday November 16   ocean biology III	Wednesday November 18 Carbon cycle Assignment 6 due
Week 13 Paleo-ocean	Monday November 23  Tropics (T19) .	Wednesday November 25 no class -- day before Thanksgiving
Week 14	Monday November 30 Midlatitude variability	Wednesday December 2 paleoclimate 1 Assignment 7 due
	Monday December 7 paleoclimate 2.	Wednesday December 9 (last class) paleoclimate 3 Party!
	December 12 Final Examination handed out (via email. I’ll try to remember to put a copy on our google docs page).	December 16 Final Examination due (via email in pdf form preferably, by 9pm. It’s easier for me if you include the questions along with your answers).