GEO4900 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics
Course description
Course content
The course deals with the fluid dynamics of large scale motion on Earth, with application to the atmosphere and ocean. Motion at such scales, including storms, the Jet Stream and Gulf Stream, is profoundly influenced by the Earth?s rotation. Key aspects of the motion can be captured with simplified dynamics, as shown in the course.
Learning outcome
After taking this course you will be able to:
- understand the equations of motion in a rotating system
- master geostrophic and hydrostatic balances, and their relation to the thermal wind
- explain principles behind gravitational and planetary waves
- interpret simplified models of the Gulf Stream and Jet Stream
- understand barotropic and baroclinic instability and the bases for storm formation
- apply simplified models of atmospheric and oceanic circulation
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must?apply for courses?in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may?apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEO3900 – Atmosphere Ocean Dynamics (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with GEF3450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with GEF4450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued).
- 10 credits overlap with GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics.
- 10 credits overlap with GEO9901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics.
Teaching
2 x 2 hours of lectures?and up to 2 hours exercises?per?week. 6 obligatory problem sets, which must be passed prior to the final exam.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet, are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
- Six written submissions which have to be approved before you can take the final exam.
- Written midterm examination (1 hour) which counts for 1/3 towards the final grade.
- Final written examination (3 hours) which counts for 2/3?towards the final grade.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:
- GEO3900 – Atmosphere Ocean Dynamics (discontinued)
- GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics
- GEO9901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics
- GEF3450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued)
- GEF4450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued)
Examination support material
- Approved calculator and Rottmann?s mathematical formula collection.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.