This schedule shows the subject matter and assigned reading for every class day, along with expected homework dates. Please check back here frequently as the schedule is subject to change.

Note, the numbers under Reading refer to sections in the text by Vallis unless otherwise stated.

Date Lecture topic Reading Homework Notes
08/27/2015 Introduction, syllabus and intake assessment Martin, Ch. 1 self-assessment of mathematical skills
09/01/2015 Time derivatives for fluids, advection 1.1
09/03/2015 Mass continuity equation and forces on a fluid 1.2, 1.3 HW1 out
09/08/2015 Momentum equations; equations of state; barotropic vs. baroclinic fluids 1.3, 1.4
09/10/2015 Thermodynamics; compressibility; sound waves 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9 HW 1 due
HW 2 out
09/15/2015 no class Rosh Hashanah
09/17/2015 The rotating frame of reference: tank demos
09/22/2015 Equations of motion in the rotating frame 2.1 HW 2 due
HW 3 out
09/24/2015 no class Yom Kippur
09/29/2015 Equations of motions on the sphere 2.2
10/01/2015 Approximations to the spherical equations 2.2, 2.3 HW 3 due
HW 4 out
10/06/2015 Boussinesq and Anelastic approximations 2.4, 2.5
10/08/2015 Pressure coordinates and hydrostatic balance 2.6, 2.7 HW 4 due
HW 5 out
10/13/2015 Geostrophic balance 2.8
10/15/2015 Thermal wind 2.8 HW 5 due
10/20/2015 Static stability 2.9
10/22/2015 Midterm exam
10/27/2015 Stratification and gravity waves 2.10
10/29/2015 Phase speed and group velocity; intro to boundary layer friction 5.A HW 6 out
11/03/2015 The Ekman layer 2.12
11/05/2015 Shallow water systems 3.1, 3.4, 3.6 HW 6 due
HW 7 out
11/10/2015 Shallow water waves; geostrophic adjustment 3.7, 3.8
11/12/2015 Vorticity and the circulation theorem 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 HW 7 due
HW 8 out
11/17/2015 Vorticity equation in the rotating frame 4.4
11/19/2015 Potential vorticity 4.5 HW 8 due
HW 9 out
11/24/2015 Quasi-geostrophic scaling 5.0, 5.1
11/26/2015 no class Thanksgiving
12/01/2015 Quasi-geostrophic shallow water systems 5.3
12/03/2015 Rossby waves 5.7 HW 9 due
12/08/2015 Rossby waves, continued 5.7