Physical Oceanography

Catalog description

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. This course introduces the fundamental physical processes that govern the ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere. Students will explore the physical properties of seawater, the forces that drive ocean circulation and the mechanisms that shape ocean dynamics across scales — from small-scale turbulence to basin-wide currents. Through lectures, problem-solving and case studies, the course builds a foundation in the principles of physical oceanography, including kinematics, hydrostatics, stability, Coriolis effects, geostrophy, wave motions and tides. By the end of the semester, students will be equipped with conceptual and analytical tools to interpret ocean phenomena and evaluate their role in the Earth system. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Understanding the physics of the ocean is essential for addressing some of the most pressing scientific and societal challenges of our time. Ocean circulation regulates climate, drives weather patterns and influences ecosystems and fisheries. Processes such as upwelling, mixing and thermohaline circulation play critical roles in distributing heat, carbon and nutrients across the globe. Students will also gain skills in interpreting observational data, applying mathematical models and placing local oceanographic events in a global context — skills that are increasingly valuable in research, industry, policy and environmental decision-making. KEY TOPICS AND THEMES. Ocean-atmosphere interactions — heat, momentum and freshwater fluxes; tropical storms; ENSO and other oscillations; physical properties of seawater — temperature, salinity, density, stratification and water masses; forces and dynamics — gravity, pressure, Coriolis force, geostrophy, wind-driven circulation and thermohaline processes; ocean circulation and transport — currents, upwelling, downwelling, mixing, diffusion and subduction; waves and tides — surface waves, internal waves, Langmuir circulation, rogue waves, tsunamis and tidal dynamics; climate and change — sea-level rise, carbon and heat uptake and the role of the ocean in long-term climate variability; regional and applied oceanography — coastal processes, Gulf of Mexico dynamics and contemporary case studies from oceanography in the news. Prerequisites: MATH 152 ; PHYS 206 ; PHYS 226 , PHYS 216/ENGR 216 , or ENGR 216/PHYS 216 ; junior or senior classification.