625-331 Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction

Earth sciences 625-227, 625-228; mathematics 620-141, 620-142, 620-143 or equivalent.

Topics include circulation of the atmosphere and ocean and how they interact to influence weather and climate; El Niño-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; and 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.

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