MT24A-Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites: MT11D Weather and Climate Fundamentals
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr David Ferreira
Email: d.g.ferreira@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module is an introduction to the fluid dynamics that drives the ocean and atmosphere circulations.

Aims:
This module aims to introduce the physical processes affecting fluid motion on various scales in the atmosphere and ocean, building up to the equations used in studying atmospheric and oceanic motions, and to solve related fluid flow problems. The concepts will be illustrated by reference to atmospheric and oceanic phenomena and through laboratory demonstrations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, the student should be able to:

• Describe the physical processes affecting a fluid, including the effects of rotation and stratification;


• Estimate relevant non-dimensional parameters;


• Make quantitative use of the equations of motion for the atmosphere and ocean;


• Solve quantitative problems relating to these flows;


• Categorize and explain the dynamics of basic atmospheric and oceanic flows;


• Analyze various atmospheric and oceanic motions and propose dynamically-sound rationales for these motions.

Additional outcomes:
Students will enhance their problem solving skills.

Outline content:

• The nature of fluids, pressure, pressure gradient force;


• Streamlines and Bernoulli’s theorem;


• Circulation and vorticity, vortex tubes, irrotational flows;


• Review of basic calculus required for this course, Eulerian and Lagrangian derivatives;


• Viscosity, Reynolds number;


• Rotation effects, Coriolis and centrifugal forces, inertial oscillations, Rossby number;


• Buoyancy and Stratification, buoyancy oscillations, Richardson number;


• Thermal wind, Burger number, Rossby deformation radius;


• Blasius boundary layer, Ekman layer, Ekman number;


• Navier-Stokes equations, the primitive equations;


• Vorticity equation and mechanisms for changing vorticity;


• Barotropic flow over orography;


• Sverdrup balance, application to wind-driven gyres and abyssal flow;


• Waves, phase and groupvelocity, wave dispersion, wave breaking;


• Linearization of the equations of motion, dispersion relations;


• Internal gravity waves, Rossby waves, Kelvin waves;


• Introduction to turbulence and chaos.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
One 3-hour session per week. This will typically involve a 1-hour lecture followed by a laboratory demonstration (to small groups) and a problem solving class. Concepts introduced during the lectures will be further developed during the problem solving class.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	9	10
Tutorials	9	10
Practicals classes and workshops	8	10
Guided independent study:	74	70
Total hours by term	100	100
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Set exercise	30
Class test administered by School	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:

2 hours.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Two set exercises.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

August/September examination only.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 10 October 2022