Department
of
Meteorology
Special
Announcement
Figure Caption: Global ocean conveyer in an ocean circulation model.
Meteorology
597B
Advanced Oceanography: Ocean's Role in Climate Change
Graduate
Course in Oceanography, Climatology, and Paleoclimatology
Fall Semester 2003; 2 credits
Tues & Thurs: 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Instructor:
Dan Seidov, Ph.D.,
EMS Senior Researcher, Professor of Oceanography
http://www.essc.psu.edu/~dseidov/
Purpose
and Content
Goals:
The goals of the course are to introduce the most important concepts in
advanced oceanographic and paleoceanographic modeling, to deepen understanding
of the role of the ocean in global climate change, and to increase the
horizon in using numerical models. An overview of major observational
and computational programs shaping modern climatology and oceanography
will be given, along with an in-depth discussion of the ocean's role in
the Earth system history and its future. Taking this course will lead
to building the skills and acquiring the knowledge necessary for a successful
beginning in these and many other areas and for future work in academia
and in climate and weather related agencies.
Prerequisites: College mathematics will be used moderately throughout the course. However, advanced mathematical skills are not required, as most of the ideas will be presented also on a qualitative level making them understandable for anyone knowledgeable of college physics. Some acquaintance with numerical methods may be helpful, but not necessary, as the main ideas are introduced and explained when needed. No specific books are required, although some general text books and a monograph may be useful additions:
Crowley, T.J., and
G.R. North, Paleoclimatology, New York, Oxf. Univ. Press, 1991.
Gill, E. G., Atmosphere-ocean dynamics, Academic Press, San Diego, 1982.
Hartmann, D. L., Global Physical Climatology, Academic Press, San Diego,
1994.
Siedler, G., J. Church, and J. Gould, Ocean circulation & climate:
Observing and modelling the global ocean, Academic, New York, 2001.
Term Paper: A term paper on a topic relevant to the course will be required.