OCEA0036-1 : Structures and applications of marine hydrodynamic models

Study Programmes 2015-2016

OCEA0036-1

Structures and applications of marine hydrodynamic models

Duration :

15h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits :

Master in oceanography (120 ECTS)		3
Master in oceanography (120 ECTS)		3

Lecturer :

Alexander Barth

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Course contents :

The course begins with an overview of the different approximations of the hydrodynamical equations which are at the heart of numerical ocean models. The range of applications and their limitations is discussed. The interactions between the ocean and atmosphere, rivers, sea bed and topography are presented and formalized by deriving appropriate boundary conditions. The choice of the vertical coordinate in an ocean model is an important aspect and the different options are discussed. The complex coastline and bottom topography of the ocean often require a careful design of the horizontal grid of the ocean model. Different time stepping approaches in ocean models are introduced to account for the broad range of resolved processes with different time scales. An overview of different discretization schemes is also given.

Learning outcomes of the course :

The aim of this course is to give an overview of different ocean models and to understand to which problems the ocean models can be applied. The course should also give the necessary basis to correctly implement an ocean model.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Physical oceanography

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

The practical work is integrated into the oral theory class. The elements of scientific programming will be introduced during the practical work if this should be necessary.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Ten 3-hour courses