Dynamics II Course (summer term)

The focus of the course is to identify the underlying dynamics for the atmosphere-ocean system. This is done through theory, numerical models, and statistical data analysis. It has been recognized that the atmospheric and oceanic flow binds together the interactions between the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere that control the planetary environment. The fundamental concepts of atmosphere-ocean flow, energetics, vorticity, wave motion are described. This includes atmospheric wave motion, extratropical synoptic scale systems, the oceanic wind driven and thermohaline circulation. These phenomena are described using the dynamical equations, observational and proxy data, as well basic physical and mathematical concepts. Exercises complement the lessons.
Specific aspects:

  •     Dynamical concepts for climate dynamics: Bifurcations, Feedback analysis
  •     Instabilities in the atmosphere-ocean system and the dynamics of waves
  •     Statistical approach of fluid dynamics
  •     Ocean circulation and atmospheric dynamics
  •     Climate variability patterns
  •     Reconstruction of climate, instrumental and proxy data
  •     Fundamental models: Stochastic climate model, Stommel's box model etc.

Literature:
 

  •     Holton, J.R., Introduction to Dynamical Meteorology, Academic Press
  •     Gill, A., Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics, Academic Press
  •     Dutton, J.A., The Ceaseless Wind, Dover
  •     Olbers, D.J., Ocean Dynamics, Springer
  •     Cushman-Roisin, B., ENVIRONMENTAL FLUID MECHANICS
  •     Cushman-Roisin, B. & Beckers, J.-M., Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Physical and Numerical Aspects
  •     R. Müller, 2009: Klassische Mechanik -- vom Weitsprung zum Marsflug (de Gruyter)
  •     J. Marchal, R. A. Plumb, 2008. Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate Dynamics: An Introductory Text. Academic Press, 344 pp; videos
  •     R. H. Stewart, 2008: Introduction To Physical Oceanography, online Version:  oceanworld.tamu.edu/home/course_book.htm
  •     T. F. Stocker, 2002. Einführung in die Klimamodellierung, Skript Universität Bern
  •     B. Saltzman, Dynamical Paleoclimatology - A generalized theory of global climate change, Academic Press, San Diego, 2002, 354 pp.
  •     N. Gershenfeld, The nature of mathematical modeling, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003, 344 pp.
  •     The Princeton companion to mathematics / Timothy Gowers, editor ; June Barrow-Green, Imre Leader, associate editors. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-691-11880-2
  •     Statistical Analysis of Climate Series Analyzing, Plotting, Modeling, and Predicting with R Pruscha, Helmut 2013, VIII, 176 p.


A script will be provided.