How nonlinear dynamics and statistical mechanics can be applied to geophysical fluid dynamics.

Geophysical fluid dynamics illustrates the rich interplay between mathematical analysis, nonlinear dynamics, statistical theories, qualitative models and numerical simulations. This self-contained introduction will suit a multi-disciplinary audience ranging from beginning graduate students to senior researchers. It is the first book following this approach and contains many recent ideas and results.

The general area of geophysical fluid mechanics is truly interdisciplinary. Now ideas from statistical physics are being applied in novel ways to inhomogeneous complex systems such as atmospheres and oceans. In this book, the basic ideas of geophysics, probability theory, information theory, nonlinear dynamics and equilibrium statistical mechanics are introduced and applied to large time-selective decay, the effect of large scale forcing, nonlinear stability, fluid flow on a sphere and Jupiter's Great Red Spot. The book is the first to adopt this approach and it contains many recent ideas and results. Its audience ranges from graduate students and researchers in both applied mathematics and the geophysical sciences. It illustrates the richness of the interplay of mathematical analysis, qualitative models and numerical simulations which combine in the emerging area of computational science.

This book introduces mathematicians to the fascinating mathematical interplay between ideas from stochastics and information theory and practical issues in studying complex multiscale nonlinear systems. It emphasizes the serendipity between modern applied mathematics and applications where rigorous analysis, the development of qualitative and/or asymptotic models, and numerical modeling all interact to explain complex phenomena. After a brief introduction to the emerging issues in multiscale modeling, the book has three main chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to information theory with novel applications to statistical mechanics, predictability, and Jupiter's Red Spot for geophysical flows. The second chapter discusses new mathematical issues regarding fluctuation-dissipation theorems for complex nonlinear systems including information flow, various approximations, and illustrates applications to various mathematical models. The third chapter discusses stochastic modeling of complex nonlinear systems. After a general discussion, a new elementary model, motivated by issues in climate dynamics, is utilized to develop a self-contained example of stochastic mode reduction. Based on A. Majda's Aisenstadt lectures at the University of Montreal, the book is appropriate for both pure and applied mathematics graduate students, postdocs and faculty, as well as interested researchers in other scientific disciplines. No background in geophysical flows is required. About the authors: Andrew Majda is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has received numerous honors and awards, including the National Academy of Science Prize in Applied Mathematics, the John von Neumann Prize of the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Gibbs Prize of the American Mathematical Society, and the Medal of the College de France. In the past several years at the Courant Institute, Majda and a multi-disciplinary faculty have created the Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science to promote cross-disciplinary research with modern applied mathematics in climate modeling and prediction. R.V. Abramov is a young researcher; he received his PhD in 2002. M. J. Grote received his Ph.D. under Joseph B. Keller at Stanford University in 1995.

This book is the third volume of lecture notes from summer schools held in the small village of Peyresq (France). These lectures cover nonlinear physics in a broad sense. They were given over the period 2004 to 2008. The summer schools were organized by the Institut Non Lin(r)aire de Nice (Nice, France), the Laboratoire de Physique Statistique (ENS Paris, France) and the Institut de Recherche de Physique Hors Equilibre (Marseilles, France). The goal of the book is to provide a high-quality overview on the state of the art in nonlinear sciences, and to promote the transfer of knowledge between the various domains in physics dealing with nonlinear phenomen

This book is the third volume of lecture notes from summer schools held in the small village of Peyresq (France). These lectures cover nonlinear physics in a broad sense. They were given over the period 2004 to 2008. The summer schools were organized by the Institut Non Linéaire de Nice (Nice, France), the Laboratoire de Physique Statistique (ENS Paris, France) and the Institut de Recherche de Physique Hors Equilibre (Marseilles, France). The goal of the book is to provide a high-quality overview on the state of the art in nonlinear sciences, and to promote the transfer of knowledge between the various domains in physics dealing with nonlinear phenomena.

This book develops a fundamental understanding of geophysical fluid dynamics based on a mathematical description of the flows of inhomogeneous fluids. It covers these topics: 1. development of the equations of motion for an inhomogeneous fluid 2. review of thermodynamics 3. thermodynamic and kinetic energy equations 4. equations of state for the atmosphere and the ocean, salt, and moisture effects 5. concepts of potential temperature and potential density 6. Boussinesq and quasi-geostrophic approximations 7. conservation equations for vorticity, mechanical and thermal energy instability theories, internal waves, mixing, convection, double-diffusion, stratified turbulence, fronts, intrusions, gravity currents Graduate students will be able to learn and apply the basic theory of geophysical fluid dynamics of inhomogeneous fluids on a rotating earth, including: 1. derivation of the governing equations for a stratified fluid starting from basic principles of physics 2. review of thermodynamics, equations of state, isothermal, adiabatic, isentropic changes 3. scaling of the equations, Boussinesq approximation, applied to the ocean and the atmosphere 4. examples of stratified flows at geophysical scales, steady and unsteady motions, inertia-gravity internal waves, quasi-geostrophic theory 5. vorticity and energy conservation in stratified fluids 6.boundary layer convection in stratified containers and basins