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  • © 2013

Quasi-Geostrophic Theory of Oceans and Atmosphere

Topics in the Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Fluid Earth

  • The book contains a detailed presentation of mathematical computations, which allows the reader to concentrate on physical aspects of the subject
  • A main unifying technique (asymptotic expansion based on scale analysis) is used throughout the book to develop various applications
  • The book makes use of a new notation that facilitates the physical interpretation of mathematical formulas

Part of the book series: Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences Library (ATSL, volume 45)

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Fundamentals

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Basic Continuum Mechanics

      • Fabio Cavallini, Fulvio Crisciani
      Pages 3-41
    3. Basic Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

      • Fabio Cavallini, Fulvio Crisciani
      Pages 43-156
  3. Applications

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 157-157
    2. Quasi-Geostrophic Single-Layer Models

      • Fabio Cavallini, Fulvio Crisciani
      Pages 159-244
    3. Quasi-Geostrophic Two-Layer Model

      • Fabio Cavallini, Fulvio Crisciani
      Pages 245-272
    4. Quasi-Geostrophic Models of Continuously Stratified Flows

      • Fabio Cavallini, Fulvio Crisciani
      Pages 273-362
  4. Back Matter

    Pages 363-385

About this book

Large-scale winds and currents tend to balance Coriolis and pressure gradient forces. The time evolution of these winds and currents is the subject of the quasi-geostrophic theory.
Chapter 1 presents concepts and equations of classical inertial fluid mechanics.
Chapter 2 deals with the equations of thermodynamics that close the governing equations of the fluids. Then, the motion is reformulated in a uniformly rotating reference frame.
Chapter 3 deals with the shallow-water model and the homogeneous model of wind-driven circulation. The chapter also describes a classical application of the Ekman layer to the atmosphere.
Chapter 4 considers the two-layer model, as an introduction to baroclinic flows, together with the concept of available potential energy.
Chapter 5 takes into account continuously stratified flows in the ocean and in the atmosphere.

Authors and Affiliations

  • di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, Geofisica della Litosfera (GDL), Ist. Naz. di Oceanografia e, Sgonico, Italy

    Fabio Cavallini

  • Trieste, Italy

    Fulvio Crisciani

About the authors

Dr. Fabio Cavallini has more than 35 years of experience in oceanography. He is specialized in numerical modeling, theory and data processing in oceanography, ecology, hydrology as well as seismic and electromagnetic wave modelling.
Dr. Fulvio Crisciani is lecturer at the University of Trieste (Italy). He has more than 25 years experience in oceanography and is specialized in geophysical fluid dynamics and the climate of the gulf of Trieste.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access