Introduces descriptive and dynamical physical oceanography, primarily focusing on the nature and dynamics of ocean currents and their role in the distribution of heat and other aspects of ocean physics related to the earth's climate. Dynamical material is limited to a mathematical description of oceanic physical systems.

Introduction; History of Oceanography Ocean Basins, Properties of sea water Distribution of water properties; T, S, density, potential T and stability Conservation of mass, heat and salt, marginal seas Surface heat budget Observations, instruments and methods Satellite oceanography General Ocean circulation; global currents Equations of motion in an inertial system Non-linearities in the equations of motion Water masses; their formation & distribution Thermohaline circulation Wind driven circulation; Inertial and Ekman Geostrophic currents, dynamic heights, reference levels and absolute currents Early wind driven circulation models; Sverdrup, Stommel and Munk; Vorticity conservation and modeling The Southern Ocean; water mass zonation; The Arctic The North Atlantic; Gulf Stream and eddies The Pacific; equatorial circulation El Nino and the North Pacific Temperature The Indian Ocean; Monsoon effects Numerical models; an introduction

To teach students the basics of physical oceanography particularly in terms of how the ocean functions and what are the basic physical principles that govern the ocean, its circulation and interaction with the atmosphere.

At least senior standing.

Access to the Internet and e-mail.