Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Benoit Cushman-Roisin is Professor of Engineering Sciences at Dartmouth College, where he has been on the faculty since 1990. His teaching includes a series of introductory, mid-level, and advanced courses in environmental engineering. He has also developed new courses in sustainable design and industrial ecology. Prof. Cushman-Roisin holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Liège, Belgium (1978) and a Ph.D. in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics from the Florida State University (1980). He is the author of two books and numerous refereed publications on various aspects of environmental fluid mechanics. In addition to his appointment at Dartmouth College, Prof. Cushman-Roisin maintains an active consultancy in environmental aspects of fluid mechanics and energy efficiency He is co-founder of e2fuel LLC, a startup dedicated to aviation and trucking fuel from clean sources. He is the founding editor of Environmental Fluid Mechanics.

I Fundamentals
1. Introduction
2. The Coriolis Force
3. Equations of Fluid Motion
4. Equations Governing Geophysical Flows
5. Diffusive Processes
6. Transport and Fate

II Rotation Effects
7. Geostrophic Flows and Vorticity Dynamics
8. Ekman layer
9. Barotropic Waves
10. Barotropic Instability

III Stratification Effects
11. Stratification
12. Layered Models
13. Internal Waves
14. Turbulence in Stratified Fluids

IV Combined Rotation and Stratification Effects
15. Dynamics of Stratified Rotating Flows
16. Quasi-Geostrophic Dynamics
17. Instabilities of Rotating Stratified Flows
18. Fronts, Jets and Vortices

V Special Topics
19. Atmospheric General Circulation
20. Oceanic General Circulation
21. Equatorial Dynamics
22. Data Assimilation

VI Web-site information

Appendix
A: Elements of Fluid Mechanics
B: Wave Kinematics
C: Recapitulation of Numerical Schemes