PHY198S

Physics at the Cutting Edge (2020-21) -- PHY198S

Week 10 readings

The two key background ideas we need this week are known as Geostrophic balance and Viscosity and turbulence. The host Prof. Nico Grisouard has recommended reading from the following source: Stewart’s lecture notes on Introduction to Physical Oceanography, as follows.

Geostrophic balance
Begin with Chapter 10, Sections 10.1 and 2, starting on p.151.
If you have time, skim the other sections of that chapter, which are mostly about how to measure geostrophic flows in the ocean (there is even a fun part about an infamous rubber duckie spill!).
See also this video about eddies.
Viscosity and turbulence
Chapter 8, Sections 8.1, 2 and 3, starting on p.115. This introduces the Reynolds number, and adopts a mostly hand-wavy description of the problem.
See also this video about turbulence.