GEO4901 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

By the end of the course, students will be able to

• understand the equations of motion governing the atmosphere and ocean
• master basic dynamical balances applicable at scales where Earth’s rotation is important
• explain wave motion in the atmosphere and ocean, both for homogeneous and density-stratified fluids
• interpret simplified models of barotropic and baroclinic instability
• show how simplified theory can be used to explain real observations
• use laboratory experiments and numerical models to study key dynamical phenomena

Both master's students and PhD candidates can take this course.

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other master's degree programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

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 master's students who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included.

The course has a max capacity of 20 students. If there are more than 20 applicants for GEO4901, applicants will be ranked after the following categories:

1. Master's students in Geosciences admitted to one of the following programme options (not prioritized order):
   • Geosciences (master)
   • CS: Geoscience (programme option)
2. PhD candidates from the University of Oslo
3. Other students

Applicants will be ranked by the number of ECTS-credits within each category: all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly within the same category.

Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.

• GEO2310 – Meteorology
• GEO2320 – Oceanography
• MEK1100 – Vector Calculus

Teaching consists of 2*2 hours of lectures and up to 2 hours of exercises per week.

There are 4-5 problem sets; these are voluntary but will be useful practice for exams.

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 course responsible.

We reserve the right to change the teaching form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.

• A written midterm examination counts 30% towards the final grade.
• A final written examination counts 70% towards the final grade.
• Both the written midterm and the final exam need to be passed separately in order to pass the course.

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.

It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

• GEO3900 – Atmosphere Ocean Dynamics (discontinued)
• GEO4900 – Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics (continued)
• GEO9901
• GEF3450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued)
• GEF4450 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (continued)

• Approved calculator
• Rottmann's mathematical formula collection

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.