1. EOSC 112 - The Fluid Earth

An exploration of environmental physics, chemistry, and biology to explain what we know about the complexity of the Earth system and climate change on our planet.  By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. describe how the Earth's geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere comprise an integrated system driven by a continuous supply of energy;
2. explain the primary factors determining Earth's climate;
3. evaluate evidence and hypotheses explaining why Earth's climate changes on different timescales;
4. compare today's climate to the climate of the past;
5. using scientific principles and evidence, evaluate information in the mainstream media about climate change.

​​Open to science and non-science majors at the undergraduate level.

Class Description
​Class Syllabus

2. EOSC 471 - Waves, Currents, and Mixing in the Ocean

Use of observations, theory and model results to solve physical oceanographic problems including applications to transport and mixing of pollutants or nutrients. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. use observations, theory and/or model results to solve physical oceanography problems;
2. use computational analysis to visualize and to extract quantitative results from observations and model results;
3. use fluid dynamical scaling to determine what processes are important and to characterize flows using non-dimensional numbers;
4. appreciate current research topics in physical oceanography.​

Open to students with past experience in physics, calculus and scientific programming.  See prerequisite requirements in the Class Description.  

Class Description
​Class Syllabus

3. EOSC 473/573 - Methods In Oceanography

Methods of data acquisition, study and analysis required in solving oceanographic problems. Includes a field school held during the mid-term break. During the course students will:

1. learn about field methods in the major branches of oceanography;
2. gain practical experience in carrying out field observations; and
3. develop and carry out a research project involving (i) writing a research proposal; (ii) planning a field program; (iii) obtaining field measurements; (iv) analyzing data; (v) presenting results orally at a 'conference'; and (vi) writing a scientific journal article.

Open to third- and fourth-year undergraduate and graduate students in Oceanography, or with permission of the Department Head.
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Class Description
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4. EOSC 512 - Advanced Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

An introduction to the dynamical principles governing the large-scale low-frequency motions in strongly rotating fluid systems (like the ocean, atmosphere, and liquid planetary core), and their consequences. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. write down the ‘standard equations’ of geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD), identify the different terms, evaluate their relative importance based on scaling arguments, and explain how different dynamical features depend on these terms;
2. define standard terms and concepts used in GFD and identify them when they arise in the context of dynamical interpretations;
3. use standard mathematical techniques to simplify complex equation sets relevant to GFD;
4. use the appropriate approximations and mathematical techniques to simplify and solve particular canonical GFD problems. 

Open to graduate students in Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, or with permission of the Instructor.

Class Description
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