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Course GEOF310

Turbulence in the Atmospheric and Ocean Boundary Layer

Course offered :

Number of credits 10
Course offered (semester) Autumn
Schedule Schedule
Reading list Reading list

Language of Instruction

English

Pre-requirements

Mandatory parts of Bachelor's degree in Meteorology and Oceanography or equivalent.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing GEOF310 the student should be able to:

- describe and compare the salient features of the turbulent boundary layer in the atmosphere and ocean

- identify and sketch the profiles of tracers and turbulent fluxes in the boundary layer in the atmosphere and ocean under different forcing conditions

- explain and discuss the different terms of the budget equations for turbulence

- sketch an idealized energy spectrum and discuss the different subranges

- explain the turbulence closure problem and sketch different methods for its solution

- choose instrumentation and sampling scheme to measure turbulence fluxes in the atmosphere and ocean

- calculate and interpret turbulent key parameters as fluxes and turbulent kinetic energy, using direct and indirect methods, from a corresponding data set

Contact Information

studieveildeder@gfi.uib.no

Course offered (semester)

Autumn

Language of Instruction

English

Aim and Content

An introduction into turbulence and turbulent energy fluxes in the atmospheric boundary layer and the ocean mixed layer is given in this course. This introduction is intended to provide a basis for further advanced studies in this field. It also aims to give students a sufficient background for assessing the relative importance and relevance of turbulence in other issues related to meteorology, oceanography or climate. The course covers homogenous turbulence theory including spectral descriptions, definition and measurement of turbulent fluxes and the influence of stratification in the boundary layer in the atmosphere and in the ocean. The budget equations for the turbulent kinetic energy and the temperature variance are derived and the different terms are discussed. Salient features of various processes in the oceanic mixed layer and the atmospheric boundary layer are introduced. The profiles of tracers and velocity and their turbulent fluxes in the atmosphere and in the ocean are described and discussed in different forcing conditions. An overview over the common instruments and measurement methods is given.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing GEOF310 the student should be able to:

- describe and compare the salient features of the turbulent boundary layer in the atmosphere and ocean

- identify and sketch the profiles of tracers and turbulent fluxes in the boundary layer in the atmosphere and ocean under different forcing conditions

- explain and discuss the different terms of the budget equations for turbulence

- sketch an idealized energy spectrum and discuss the different subranges

- explain the turbulence closure problem and sketch different methods for its solution

- choose instrumentation and sampling scheme to measure turbulence fluxes in the atmosphere and ocean

- calculate and interpret turbulent key parameters as fluxes and turbulent kinetic energy, using direct and indirect methods, from a corresponding data set

Pre-requirements

Mandatory parts of Bachelor's degree in Meteorology and Oceanography or equivalent.

Assessment methods

Oral. If more than 15 candidates, the exam might be written.

Grading Scale

The grading scale used is A to F. Grade A is the highest passing grade in the grading scale, grade F is a fail.

Contact Information

studieveildeder@gfi.uib.no