4300 Advanced Physical Oceanography covers dynamical physical oceanography. The equations of motion oceanography are derived and analysed. Topics include geostrophy, conservation equations, linear and non-linear wave theory and open ocean and shelf circulation dynamics.

PR: PHYS 3300 and 3820 or waiver approved by the instructor

Students taking this course will gain a detailed understanding of the equations of motion for the ocean, geostrophic flows, and Ekman dynamics. A significant topic is waves in both non-rotating fluids (surface gravity waves) and rotating (tidal and planetary waves). While a complete mathematical treatment of fluid dynamics is not required, this course will give you an in-depth understanding of rotating fluids. Much of the material of PHYS4300 is also applicable to atmospheric dynamics. The subject matter discussed is also called geophysical fluid dynamics – the fluid dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids. In this course, we we learn how the dynamics for both the ocean and atmosphere can be described with the same underlying physics.