MT2AOD: Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

Module code: MT2AOD

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Remi Tailleux, email: r.g.j.tailleux@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE MT1WCF OR TAKE MT11D OR TAKE MT1WCFNU OR TAKE MT11DNU (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

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

The 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.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the physical processes affecting a fluid, including the effects of rotation and stratification; Estimate relevant non-dimensional parameters;
2. Categorise and explain the dynamics of basic atmospheric and oceanic flows;
3. Solve quantitative problems relating to these flows.

Module 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 group velocity, wave dispersion, wave breaking;
• Linearization of the equations of motion, dispersion relations;
• Internal gravity waves, Rossby waves, Kelvin waves;
• Introduction to turbulence and chaos.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Two 2-hour sessions per week. This will typically involve a 1-hour lecture followed by a problem solving class/tutorial. Concepts introduced during the lectures will be further developed during the problem solving classes.

There will also be 3 1 hour lab classes during the semester.

Study hours

At least 47 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs