Printable versionGeophysical fluid dynamics
Prof. Marco Toffolon, Prof. Dino Zardi (University of Trento); Dr. Stefano Serafin (University of Wien)
Timetable 2013-2014
|
June 2014 |
Hours |
Room |
|
Monday 16 |
14:30 – 17:30 |
B1 |
|
Tuesday 17 |
9:30-12:30 - 13:30-17:30 |
D1/ D2 |
|
Wednesday 18 |
9:30-12:30 - 13:30-17:30 |
F2/ B2 |
|
Thursday 19 |
9:30-12:30 - 14:30-17:30 |
D1/ B2 |
|
Friday 20 |
9:30-12:30 |
D1 |
Duration
20 hours (2,5 credits)
Programme
• Thermally-driven atmospheric flows over simple slopes (prof. Dino Zardi, University of Trento)
Formulation of the problem for the flow generated by the warming or cooling of atmospheric layers adjacent an infinitely extended plane, tilted by an angle $\alpha$, as a consequence of the heat flux prescribed at the surface.
Derivation of governing equations from the basic principles of mass, momentum and energy conservation, and the state equation for a perfect gas.
Statement of the appropriate boundary conditions.
Derivation of the solutions for the cases of (a) steady (Prandtl 1942) and (b) periodic (Zardi and Serafin 2013) surface heat flux.
• Stratified flows: internal waves and mixing in lakes (prof. Marco Toffolon, University of Trento)
Water density, stratification and equilibrium: definitions and dimensionless parameters.
Instabilities in stratified flows: analysis of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.
Internal/interfacial waves, seiches and trapped waves.
Lakes and stratification: hints on physical limnology.
Mixing processes and turbulence: simplified TKE energy budget, effect of stratification, length scales.
Case studies: relevant phenomena moving from small to big lakes.
• Stratified flows: internal waves in the atmosphere (dr. Stefano Serafin, University of Wien)
Elementary theory of waves in the atmosphere: Boussinesq approximation, Taylor-Goldstein equation, propagating and evanescent waves. Linear theory of gravity waves launched by flow over topography: flows over sinusoidal corrugations and over isolated mountains. Breakdown of linear theory. Shallow water models of atmospheric flows: downslope windstorms.
Exam
Review of two articles published on international journals, or a short essay on topics outlined during the course, or the solution of an exercise proposed by the lecturer.