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 625-331 Atmosphere-Ocean Circulation And Interaction

Credit Points

25

Coordinator

Assoc. Professor I H Simmonds

Prerequisites

Earth Sciences 625-226, 625-227; Mathematics 620-141, 620-142, 620-130 or equivalent.

Semester

1

Contact

36 lectures (three per week), 60 hours practical (five hours per week)

Subject Description

Circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and how they interact to influence weather and climate. El Nino-Southern Oscillation events, atmospheric and oceanic processes in the Antarctic region. The general circulation, Sverdrup transport, wind-driven ocean circulation. Atmospheric and oceanic wave processes and instabilities, generation of eddies and 'weather'. Turbulent structure of the ocean and atmosphere, the surface and boundary layers, Ekman flows. Air-sea interaction, exchanges of heat, moisture and momentum at the interface.

On completion of this subject, students should have an appreciation of atmospheric and oceanic motion and interactions on a range of time and spatial scales and their importance for climate.

Assessment

A 3-hour written examination. Practical work and assignments will also be assessed.



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Status:                   Official 1998
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au