Numerical Models in Oceanography
(1) General
| School: | Of the Environment | ||
| Academic Unit: | Department of Marine Sciences | ||
| Level of studies: | Undergraduate | ||
| Course Code: | 191ΕΩ15E | Semester: | H |
| Course Title: | Numerical Models in Oceanography | ||
| Independent Teaching Activities | Weekly Teaching Hours | Credits | |
| Lectures and Lab | 3 | ||
| Total credits | 5 | ||
| Course Type: | skills development | ||
| Prerequisite Courses: | Officially, there are not prerequisite courses. However, the student is required to have a basic background in mathematics, familiarity with computers and programming skills at a basic level. Ιt is therefore recommended that he/she has successfully completed the modules ‘Introduction to Informatics and Programming’, ‘Introduction to Dynamical Oceanography’ and ‘Modelling and Applications’, as the course draws from these fields. | ||
| Language of Instruction and Examinations: | Greek | ||
| Is the course offered to Erasmus students: | Yes. In their case the language of instruction and examination is English, and the course is adapted depending on each student. | ||
| Course Website (Url): | https://www.mar.aegean.gr/index.php?lang=en&lesson=1088&pg=3.1.1 | ||
(2) Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
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Aim of the ‘Numerical Models in Oceanography’ course is:
At the end of this course the student should:
Skills: techniques and methods for the numerical simulation of physical and biogeochemical processes in the marine environment. |
General Competences
- Apply theory in practice
- Search, analyze and synthesize data and information, using the necessary tools
- Decision-making
- Independent work
- Team work
- Capacity to work in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams
- Respect for the natural environment
- Critical and self-critical capacity
- Production of free, creative and inductive thinking
(3) Syllabus
The theoretical part consists initially of a brief repetition of basic concepts (differentiation, numerical solution of partial differential equation, derivative approach with finite differences, numerical error, precision, stability and convergence of numerical solution, explicit and implicit solving schemes, limitations and Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy criterion, requirements of initial and boundary conditions, basics of hydrodynamic models). After that, detailed description and application of numerical simulation techniques is performed on
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processes described by ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and systems of ODEs (change only with time),
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processes of advection and diffusion of tracers in one (horizontal and vertical) spatial dimension (1-D) and in two spatial dimensions (2-D, horizontal),
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hydrodynamic circulation processes (e.g. long surface waves in one and two dimensions, shallow water equations and wind driven circulation in a shallow basin with variable bathymetry),
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ecosystem processes examined by physical-biological coupling (e.g. annual primary production cycle in the water column in coastal ecosystems), climatic processes, etc.
Practical exercises include the simulation of these phenomena both by developing simple code in programming language and by using ready-made software such as MATLAB subroutines, the S2P3 water column physics-biology model, the Delft-Dashboard software (the latter is used by students in teams to apply a simple two-dimensional, depth averaged hydrodynamic model in a coastal area and investigate results at the end of the semester).
(4) Teaching and Learning Methods - Evaluation
| Delivery: | Face to face (lectures and lab practice) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Use of Information and Communication Technology: |
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| Teaching Methods: |
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| Student Performance Evaluation: |
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(5) Attached Bibliography
- Suggested bibliography:
Lecturer’s Notes on Numerical Models in Oceanography (in Greek)
Glover, D. M., W. J. Jenkins and S. C. Doney (2011). Modeling Methods for Marine Science. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Cambridge University Press, pp588.
Kämpf, J. (2009). Ocean modelling for beginners. Using open-source software. Springer-Verlag, pp175.
- Additional bibliography:
Dyke, P.P.G. (2001). Coastal and Shelf Sea Modelling. Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp257.
Haidvogel, D.B. and A. Beckmann (1999). Numerical Ocean Circulation Modelling. Imperial College Press, pp320.
Hearn, C. J. (2008). The dynamics of coastal models. Cambridge University Press, pp488.
Kantha, L. and C.A. Clayson (2000). Numerical Models of Oceans and Oceanic Processes, 1st Edition, Academic Press, pp750.
Kämpf, J. (2009). Advanced ocean modeling. Using open-source software. Springer-Verlag, pp181.
- Related academic journals:
Ocean Modelling- https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ocean-modelling
Journal of Advances in Modelling Earth Systems - https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19422466
Ecological Modelling- https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science- https://www.journals.elsevier.com/estuarine-coastal-and-shelf-science
Journal of Marine Systems - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-marine-systems
Continental Shelf Research - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/continental-shelf-research
- Useful links: