EEPS1820, Spring 2026

EEPS1820. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Rotating, Stratified Turbulence

Explores theories of the large-scale ocean and atmosphere, including quasigeostrophic, planetary geostrophic, and shallow water equations. Topics will vary to focus on features of the general circulation and climate system (e.g. thermocline, westward intensification, jet stream dynamics, polar vortex, meridional overturning circulations), instabilities and waves (e.g. gravity, Rossby, and Kelvin), or rotating stratified turbulence. May be repeated with permission of instructor. Pre-requisites: PHYS0720 or APMA 0340 or ENGN 2020 and EEPS1400 or EEPS1510 or EEPS1520.

The Spring 2026 version will focus on Rotating, Stratified Turbulence and Parameterizations. You can access the syllabus, class calendar, notes, and reading

Web Resources and Texts

1. Peer reviewing guidelines
2. Reading assignment guidelines
3. Lecture Slides
4. Math Resource Center
5. Tutoring

Main Texts

1. Vallis, Essentials of Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics
2. Wyngaard, Turbulence in the Atmosphere
3. Thorpe, An Introduction to Ocean Turbulence

(Free) Software and Simulations

1. Oceananigans.jl
2. GeophysicalFlows.jl
3. julia
4. jupyter notebooks
5. Class Github repository

1. Problem Set 1 due 1/30.
2. Problem Set 2 due 2/13.
3. Problem Set 3 due 2/20.
4. Problem Set 4 due 3/6.
5. Problem Set 5 due 3/13.
6. Problem Set 7 due 4/3.
7. Problem Set 8 due 4/14.
8. Problem Set 9 due 4/17.
9. Problem Set 10 due 5/8.

Secondary Textbooks (available online):

1. Cushman-Roisin and Beckers, Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics: Physical and Numerical Aspects
2. Marshall and Plumb, Atmosphere, ocean, and climate dynamics: an introductory text
3. Vallis, Atmospheric and Oceanic Fluid Dynamics : Fundamentals and Large-Scale Circulation
4. Fowler, Mathematical Geosciences
5. Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos : With Applications to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering
6. Arfken, Weber, and Harris, Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Seventh Edition: A Comprehensive Guide
7. Bender & Orszag, Advanced Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers
8. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6, WGI), 2021: Physical Science Basis Technical Summary, Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers, Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers

Websites

1. Wolfram Alpha
2. Mathematics of Planet Earth
3. Cleon Teunissen's Rotation Physics

Additional Fun Reading

Nonfiction

1. Lamb, 1917: Lamb, On Waves in an Elastic Plate
2. Love, 1897: Theoretical Mechanics: An Introductory Treatise on the Principles of Dynamics with Applications and Numerous Examples
3. Taylor, 1920: Tidal Friction in the Irish Sea
4. Hofstadter, Goedel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
5. Paulos, Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
6. Bowditch, 1880: The American Practical Navigator

Fiction

1. Square, Flatland
2. Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
3. Dana, Two Years Before the Mast
4. Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
5. Homer, The Odyssey
6. London, The Sea Wolf
7. Stevenson, Treasure Island
8. Melville, Moby Dick

Brown Specific Guidelines

1. Student Accessisbility Services
2. Academic Code,
3. Grad Student Academic Code,
4. Student Conduct and Community Standards, *Note* Prof. Fox-Kemper regards inappropriate cellphone and laptop use as disruptive behavior.