280353 VO Fluid Dynamics of the Atmosphere (2023W)

The course assumes that students already have a good understanding of the fundamentals of atmospheric dynamics and presents an advanced treatment of the following topics. (1) Approximations of the governing equations (Boussinesq, anelastic, hydrostatic) and their limits of applicability, with special emphasis on filtering approximations. (2) Wave dynamics, with special emphasis on internal gravity waves and equatorial waves. (3) Dynamic instabilities at different scales (baroclinic, symmetric, shear and thermal instabilities). (4) Vorticity dynamics at different scales, including a treatment of the mechanisms of supercell storms and tornadogenesis. (5) Potential vorticity and PV inversion. The course is completed by cursory reviews of topics in tropical meteorology (dynamics of hurricanes) and in mountain meteorology (dynamical impacts of mountains on the atmospheric flow, mountain waves).