Large-Scale Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521807573 ISBN 13: 9780521807579

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2002

Synopsis

The complex flows in the atmosphere and oceans are believed to be accurately modeled by the Navier-Stokes equations of fluid mechanics together with classical thermodynamics. However, due to the enormous complexity of these equations, meteorologists and oceanographers have constructed approximate models of the dominant, large-scale flows that control the evolution of weather systems and that describe, for example, the dynamics of cyclones and ocean eddies. The simplifications often result in models that are amenable to solution both analytically and numerically. The volume examines and explains why such simplifications to Newton's second law produce accurate, useful models and, just as the meteorologist seeks patterns in the weather, mathematicians seek structure in the governing equations, such as groups of transformations, Hamiltonian structure and stability.

About this title

Book Description

This book and its companion describe, in a language accessible to both mathematicians and meteorologists, the mathematics underpinning our understanding of large-scale atmosphere and ocean dynamics. Meteorologists understand 'weather' by identifying the dominant controlling mechanisms, and so mathematicians are deducing how such features can be described mathematically. They are discovering that geometry plays a key role in this process. These developments promise an important spin-off - improving numerical models by incorporating, using a geometric language, constraints that govern the optimal use of observationa data and the development of typical weather systems.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521807573
• ISBN 13: 9780521807579
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 396
• Editor: Norbury John, Roulstone Ian