Physical Oceanography

Learning Outcomes: 
Α) Knowledge-based
• Student introduction to the physical oceanic processes,
• Presentation of main physical-chemical parameters and their monitoring methods,
• Understanding the interactions between ocean and atmosphere,
• Introduction to the basic equations describing physical process and transports.

General Skills:
• Capacity to produce and discuss oceanographic diagrams,
• Ability to design and solve heat, water and salt budgets,
• Capacity to solve barotropic and baroclinic geostrophic equations,
• Capacity to solve wind-induced equations and understand relevant processes.

Course Content:
This course introduces the student to the basic principles of Oceanography, emphasizing on the physical processes of ocean systems. The course contains lectures on the physical properties of sea water and their spatio-temporal variability in the oceans, explains the methods and techniques of oceanographic monitoring and analyzes the thermal, salt and water budgets. Particular emphasis is given to the exchanges and interactions between oceans and atmosphere. The ocean dynamics are presented through the use of basic hydrodynamic equations (Momentum and Continuity Equations). At the second part, special chapters of physical oceanography are explained, as the geostrophic circulation, the wind-induced circulation, the generation and propagation of ocean waves, the nature of tides and the introduction to the numerical models. A special lecture on remote sensing and satellite oceanography and their application in the fields of Environmental Engineering takes place.
Exercises/Practicals:
1. Water Temperature – salinity profiles (using R programming),
2. Determination of density and potential temperature of sea water (using R programming),
3. Determination of water column eustatic parameters (using R programming),
4. Discussion of oceanographic diagrams,
5. Ocean heat budget determination,
6. Sea water and salt budget determination,
7. Vertical velocity magnitude and direction calculation (using R programming),
8. Barotropic geostrophic currents computation (using R programming),
9. Baroclinic geostrophic currents computation,
10. Tides and tidal waves,
11. Development of wind-induced currents (using R programming).

Suggested Bibliography: 

1. «Physical Oceanography», Athanasios Ι. Theodorou, UNIBOOKS IKE, Athens, 716 p., ISBN 978-618-828-122-6.
2. «Physical Oceanography Online Notes», Sylaios Georgios, University Course Lectures.
3. “Ocean Mechanics”, Papatheodorou, Ferentinos, Geraga, Publisher University of Patras, ISBN 978-960-530-142-2
4. “Dynamic Physical Oceanography”, Athanasios I. Theodorou, UNIBOOKS IKE, 816 p., 978-ISBN 618-530-485-0