The students completing this course will be able to apply standard numerical solution techniques to problems in Oceanographic, Atmospheric and Earth Science.
The course assumes a mathematics background including vector calculus and linear algebra. Students weak in either of these areas will be directed to readings to strengthen their knowledge. Some programming experience is greatly recommended.
This course is not lecture based. The course is an interactive, computer based laboratory course. The computer will lead you through the laboratory (like a set of lab notes) and you will answer problems most of which use the computer. The course consists of three parts. A set of required interactive, computer based laboratory exercises, a choice of optional laboratory exercises and a project. The project will be determined through consultation between the student and their supervisor.
During the meeting times, we will have brief presentations to help with technical matters and the more difficult sections of the course. It is highly recommended that you join us to work on the course during the meeting times. Past students who did so got a great deal more out of the course than those that worked on their own.
You can use a web-browser to examine the course exercises. Point your browser to:
1400-1600 Thursdays, Room 210, Earth and Oceans Sciences (EOS) Main
The laboratory problem sets can be given to either instructor when completed. (We have mail boxes in the Earth and Ocean Sciences Main Office). They may be hand written or typed. You may wish or be asked to include plots and diagrams. Sometimes, rather than a large series of plots, you may wish to include a summarizing table. If you do not understand the scope of a problem, please ask. The time scales given in the Contents section are based on 9 hours/week. Help with the labs is available 1) through a mailing list so you can contact your classmates and ask them 2) during the weekly scheduled lab or 3) directly from the instructors. Assignments and the project are expected on time. Late ones will be marked and then the mark will be multiplied by \((0.9)^{\rm (number\ of\ days\ or\ part\ days\ late)}\). (Below we give two dates for each assignment. You should aim for the first one (this would keep you totally up to date). The later one allows a couple of days “in case”.)
Recommended timing. Problems to be handed in can be found on the webpage.
Choose one of the following concentrations or talk to your instructors about a combination of your choosing. Time scale two and a half weeks.