The eigenmodes of the velocity streamfunction. (Image by Prof. Kerry Emanuel.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Kerry Emanuel
MIT Course Number
12.803
As Taught In
Fall 2009
Level
Graduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course introduces the students to dynamics of large-scale circulations in oceans and atmospheres. Basic concepts include mass and momentum conservation, hydrostatic and geostrophic balance, and pressure and other vertical coordinates. It covers the topics of fundamental conservation and balance principles for large-scale flow, generation and dissipation of quasi-balanced eddies, as well as equilibrated quasi-balanced systems. Examples of oceanic and atmospheric quasi-balanced flows, computational models, and rotating tank experiments can be found in the accompaniment laboratory course 12.804, Large-scale Flow Dynamics Lab.