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Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesInstitute of Geophysics and Meteorology

MN-GM-GEOFLU

Module title/ IDGeophysik der Ozeane, Atmosphäre, Ionosphäre und des Weltraums
MN-GM-GEOSPA
StructureCourseCredit pointsDuration (SWS)Workload (h)
Lecture3390
Tutorial3290
Internship4 (2)4 (2)120 (60)
Total10 (8)9 (7)300 (240)
Description/
Content

Theoretical basics of geophysical fluid dynamics:

  • Introduction into fluid equations
  • Attributes and simple solutions of geophysical fluid equations
Oceans:
  • Attributes and structure of oceans and oceanic basins
  • Introduction into hydrodynamic equations
  • Drifts of the oceans
  • Linkage oceans/atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere:

  • Structure and composition of the earth's atmosphere (troposphere, mesosphere, stratosphere and thermosphere)
  • Temperature budged
  • Overviews of fundamental dynamic attributes of the earth
Earth's ionosphere:

  • Attributes, evolution and transport
Earth's magnetosphere:

  • Attributes, transport mechanisms
  • Energetic particles, radiation belts and aurora
Sun (overview):

  • solar wind and solar-terrestrial relation
  • Short overview of the planets of our solar system (structure/atmospheres/magnetospheres)
Obligatory literature
  • Pedlosky, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Springer Verlag, Second Edition
  • Garrison, Essentials of Oceanography, Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2005
  • Baumjohann und Treumann, Basic Space Plasma Physics, Imperial College Press
  • (Kertz, Einführung in die Geophysik, Band II, Bibliographisches Institut)
Additional literatureIs announced at the beginning of the lecture.
Organisation and teaching styleLecture, tutorial, internship
This module is offered to students of the bachelor course "Physics" with the total extent of 8 credit points due to the reduction of the internship.
Course assessment, assessment mode

This module is a compensable electoral module. It is passed if

  1. lectures and tutorials were attended regularly and successfully (at least 50% of the in the tutorial accessible points have to be gained).
  2. the internship was attended successfully.
  3. the test is passed. If the test is not passed there will be the opportunity for a timely re-test (written or oral). If the re-test is not passed there will be the opportunity for a second oral re-test. If this one is not passed the module is not passed finally.
The mark of the test (or the re-test) is the module mark.
Learning/ qualification targetsStudents are supposed to get to know the most important geophysical attributes of the non-solid parts of the earth and universe. They are supposed to be familiarized with fundamental theoretic/mathematical tools that are necessary to describe geophysical relevant fluids. The internship is supposed to school students in dealing with computers. Basic functions of a computer as well as special numerical and data evaluation oriented methods are learned that play an essential role in the description of neutral and ionized fluids. In this internship qualifications are schooled that are essential for scientific as well as the non-scientific working life.
Prerequisites for attending

Passed modules:

  1. Einführung in die Geophysik und Meteorologie
  2. Experimentalphysik I
  3. Experimentalphysik II
  4. Mathematische Methoden der Physik
Frequency of the offerEvery 2nd summer semester.
Imparted interdisciplinary competencies and soft skills---
Applicability in other courses of studiesThis module is suitable as an electoral module of the bachelor course "Physics". The examination board can allow exceptions of the prerequisites for attending for subsidiary students. 
Accumulation in overall markYes, weighted with the factor 15/180.
CoodinatorProf. J. Saur
Retrieved2006-07-26