• Physical Oceanography II ss2011
• Lecturer: Dr. C. Mertens
• Tel: 0421-218-2503
• cmertens@physik.uni-bremen.de
• Time: Tuesday 10 – 12 a.m.
• Location: S3032
• Credits: 3 credit points
• Final exam:

Lecture content:

This course builds on the course no. 78002, „Physical Oceanography I“.
It gives an introduction into periodic and small scale processes which occur in the interior of the ocean and influence the mean state. Discussed are several forms of waves and wave induced processes on the basis of linear wave theorie: small-amplitude waves, standing and propagating waves, transformation in shallow water, short waves, long waves with rotation (planetary waves), and internal waves and their role in mixing and maintaining the stratification.

The introduction of tides deals with description of tides in ocean/tidal analysis, the tidal generation forces, the concept of an equilibrium tide, differences between barotropic and baroclinic (internal) tides, and the fundamental connections between tides and wave processes.

Aim: The aim of this lecture is to broaden and deepen the understanding the physical processes underlying the ocean circulation and the importance of periodic motions for the energy budget of the world ocean.

Assessment
Homework

Literature
to be announced