GEF9510 – Atmosphere and Oceans on Computers: Fundamentals
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Governing equations, hyperbolic, elliptic and parabolic systems, finite difference methods, truncation errors, orthogonal functions, numerical stability, explicit and implicit methods, elliptic solvers, numerical dispersion, diffusion and dissipation, unphysical modes, solutions to diffusion and advection problems and their combinations, solutions to the shallow water equations, higher order schemes, generalized vertical coordinates, open boundary conditions.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, candidates have gained knowledge about
- fundamental numerical, finite difference methods used to solve atmospheric and oceanographic problems
- parametrizations of key processes in numerical weather and ocean prediction models
- how to construct nesting conditions at open boundaries of limited area models
- the FORTRAN computer language
- how to apply the numerical methods to solve a realistic two-dimensional atmospheric and/or oceanographic problem.
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 7 credits overlap with GEF4230 – Numerical models of the atmosphere (discontinued)
- 7 credits overlap with GEF4620 – Numerical solutions of oceanographic problems (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with GEF4510 – Atmosphere and Oceans on Computers: Fundamentals (discontinued)
Teaching
2 times 2 hours per week throughout the fall semester. Lectures and evaluation of five compulsory exercises.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet, are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Studies administration, email address: studieinfo@geo.uio.no
Examination
The compulsory exercises must be approved before the candidates may take the final exam. The final exam consists of the five compulsory exercises (counts 30%) and an oral examination (70%).
Language of examination
In this course any written exam questions or assignment questions may be available in English only.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.