All Courses
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GEOS 24230 1 (Autumn 2017) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: Foundations
This course is designed as the step-off experience for geophysical sciences graduate students who are intending to take further courses in geophysical fluid dynamics, fluid dynamics, geomechanics and continuum mechanics. Topics will include: description of material properties in a continuum including displacement, velocity and strain rate; scalar, vector and tensor properties of continuums, strain, strain rate and stress; derivations and understanding of mass, momentum and energy conservation principles in a continuum; applications of conservation principles to simple rheological idealizations including, ideal fluids and potential flow, viscous fluids and Navier-Stokes flow, elasticity and deformation; introductory asymptotic analysis, Reynolds number; heat transfer by conduction and convection, convective instability, Rayleigh number; fluids in gravitational fields, stratification, buoyancy, K-H instability; elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic partial differential equations, typical properties of each; damage mechanics. Weekly problem sets will emphasize simple, well-known treatments of geodynamic phenomena. Students will be expected to conduct weekly homework assignments, and produce a term paper/term project.
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PHSC 13400 1 (Autumn 2017) Global Warming
This common-core physical science course provides an overview of the scientific ideas and origins of viewpoints associated with global climate change. The course is intended for non-science majors; so is relatively non-pedagogical in its presentation. Students will learn to address real climate data in the context of about 5 laboratory exercises. Lab sections meet once a week.