The theme for this semester is the physical properties of oceanic mesoscale eddies. Specifically, we will survey some key developments in the literature concerning the eddy generation, propagation, and dissipation.

The course format is group discussion, hands-on numerical experiments, and data analyses. Each participant (including the instructor) will take turn and present key papers. We will also conduct numerical experiments using a hierarchy idealized models, including QG, shallow-water, and primitive-equation solver. The idea is to explore how eddy properties change as we add/remove complexities. What we learn from idealized models will then form hypotheses that can be tested against satellite observations (e.g. global mesoscale eddy trajectories atlas).

Some papers

1. Satellite observations
Chelton et al. (2011): Global observations of nonlinear mesoscale eddies
Fu (2009): Pattern and velocity of propagation of the global ocean eddy variability

2. Theories
Davey and Killworth (1984): Isolated Waves and Eddies in a Shallow Water Model
Early et al. (2011): The Evolution and Propagation of Quasigeostrophic Ocean Eddies
Van Leeuwen (2007): The Propagation Mechanism of a Vortex on the beta-plane

3. Misc.
Flierl (1984): Rossby Wave Radiation from a Strongly Nonlinear Warm Eddy
Chassignet (1991): On the influence of a lower layer on the propagation of nonlinear oceanic eddies
Jacob et al. (2002): Influence of topography on the propagation of isolated eddies
Mason et al. (2014): A New Sea Surface Height–Based Code for Oceanic Mesoscale Eddy Tracking