COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The course prepares students to analyze data documenting sea motion, describe the spatial and temporal distribution of currents and wave dynamics in the world's seas and oceans, and perform elementary modeling of the motion.
COURSE CONTENT
Quasi-steady currents: geostrophic/hydrostatic model, currents in the seas and oceans, wind-driven currents (Ekman model), thermohaline currents (simple diffusion model). Free waves: a model of waves in deep and shallow water and its use in the interpretation of swell and tsunami, gravity inertia and Rossby waves. Forced waves: tides, the response of the sea to the air pressure and wind forcing (storm surges), thermohaline forcing and its influence on annual variability of temperature, salinity and sea level. Exercises include a basic analysis of current and sea level time series. Besides, the series are subjected to filtering and spectral analysis.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will be able to
1. analyze current and sea level data,
2. describe currents and wave dynamics of the world's seas and oceans,
3. identify factors controlling spatial distribution and temporal variability of the motion,
4. solve equations of motion and continuity that capture the sea motion.
LEARNING MODE:
1. following the lectures as well as studying the lecture notes and literature,
2. analyzing the data (time series of currents and sea level).
TEACHING METHODS:
1. Presentation and discussion,
2. Posing the problems relying on data collected primarily in the Adriatic.
METHODS OF MONITORING AND VERIFICATION:
Attending the lectures, homeworks, written and oral examination.
TERMS FOR RECEIVING THE SIGNATURE:
Regular attendance to the lectures, successful completion of the exercises.
EXAMINATION METHODS:
Written and oral examination.
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