Introduction to Observational Physical Oceanography

Calendar

WEEK #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
1	Some Physical Properties of Sea Water	Problem set 1 out
2	Rotation 101: Some Basics	Problem set 1 due
3	Rotation 101 (cont.): Effects of Rotation on a Sphere: f- and β-planes Earth’s Gravity Field and Sea Level
4	Ekman Layers, Friction and Geostrophic Flow	Problem set 2 out
5	Wind-Driven Circulation: Stommel’s Gyre and Sverdrup’s Balance	Problem set 2 due
6	Stress in the Ocean
7	Observations of the Gulf Stream in the N. Atlantic	Problem set 3 out
8	Global Hydrographic Climatology	Problem set 3 due
9	Equatorial Twists to Mid-Latitude Dynamics
10	The Large Scale Thermohaline Circulation: Some Thermodynamics	Problem set 4 out
11	The Thermohaline Circulation	Problem set 4 due
12	Another Wrinkle on Observations of the Abyssal Ocean: Geothermal Heating and Hydrothermal Vents
13	Tidal Forces	Problem set 5 out
14	Introduction to “Waves” and Time Dependent Motion	Problem set 5 due
15	Internal Waves	Presentations due
16	Final Exam