Activities in the School of Oceanography that advance our understanding of the general circulation range from studies of the detailed physics of mixing processes and individual circulation elements to their synthesis into the large-scale systems that are so critical for the regulation of climate and the distribution of chemical species and biological organisms. For example, a full ocean circulation model of the North Pacific is being run to understand ocean/atmosphere interactions and the dynamics of the gyre circulation. Observations from the TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter are providing complementary information on changes in gyre strength, heat content, and the dynamics of Rossby waves.

Graduate students concentrating in large-scale physical oceanography will obtain an understanding of current theoretical, and observational and numerical work related to the physics of the general circulation, both wind-driven and thermohaline.

Advanced Courses beyond the Physical Oceanography Core

Research links

Faculty

Susan Hautala

Greg Johnson

Peter Rhines

Steve Riser

LuAnne Thompson

Mark Warner