Physical Oceanography

The physical oceanography curriculum combines a comprehensive program of course work with individually tailored specialization to meet student needs. Students will demonstrate proficiency in core courses that are common to all physical oceanography students as well as additional courses appropriate to their specialization. Most students take a set of six core courses in the Fall and Winter quarters.  Additional courses are selected based on student interest.  A faculty Curriculum Advisory Committee will meet with students to tailor tracks for each individual

The Physical Oceanography Curricular Group uses a rotating advisors system during the first academic year, wherein the student has a different advisor each quarter. The purpose of this system is to help first-year students make the best possible choice of research advisor. We consider the match between student and advisor to be an essential step towards a succesful research career. At the end of the Spring quarter, each student will select a research advisor to begin research in earnest during the summer. The research advisor need not be one of the three from the first year.

Physical oceanography students take a departmental exam at the beginning of their second year in graduate school. The purpose of the exam is to provide an opportunity for students to synthesize the material that they have learned during their year of coursework. Past exams are archived to help students prepare.
 

Core Courses

Fall
SIO 210 Survey of Physical Oceanography
SIO 203A Methods of Applied Analysis
SIO 214A Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
Winter
SIO 203B Methods of Applied Analysis
SIO 211A Ocean Waves
SIO 212A Dynamical Oceanography

Other Courses in Physical Oceanography.

SIO 203C Methods of Applied Analysis
SIO 211B Ocean Waves
SIO 212B Dynamical Oceanography
SIO 213 Ocean Turbulence and Mixing
SIO 214B Environmental Fluid Mechanics
SIO 216 Introduction to the Physics of Complex Systems
SIO 217 Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Dynamics and Climate
SIO 221A Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data
SIO 221B Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data
SIO 220 Observations of Large-Scale Ocean Circulation

We have a "catch-all" sequence, SIO 219, which covers special topics in physical oceanography. A few recent and future 219s are listed below.
SIO 219 Theoretical Seminar
SIO 219 Observational Seminar
SIO 219 Long-Range Climate Prediction
SIO 219 Data Analysis Lab
SIO 219 Ocean State Estimation
SIO 219 Satellite Oceanography
SIO 219 Instability and Turbulence

Sample Course Sequences

Concentration in observational physical oceanography:

Fall
    210 Physical Oceanography
    203A Methods of Applied Analysis
    214A Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
    221A Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data
Winter
    212A Dynamical Oceanography
    203B Methods of Applied Analysis
    211A Ocean Waves
    221B Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data 2
Spring
    212B Dynamical Oceanography
    220 Large-Scale Oceanography
Additional courses
    217A Atmospheric Thermodynamics
    203C Methods of Applied Mathematics
    211B Ocean Waves
    213 Turbulence and Mixing
    2 breadth electives

Concentration in theoretical oceanography:

Fall
    210 Physical Oceanography
    203A Methods of Applied Analysis
    214A Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
    217A Atmospheric Thermodynamics
    OR
    221A Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data
Winter
    212A Dynamical Oceanography
    203B Methods of Applied Analysis
    211A Ocean Waves
    217B Atmospheric Thermodynamics
    OR
    221B Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data 2
Spring
    212B Dynamical Oceanography
    220 Large-Scale Oceanography
Additional courses
    203C Methods of Applied Mathematics
    211B Ocean Waves
    213 Turbulence and Mixing
    2 breadth electives

Concentration in air/sea climate:

Fall
    210 Physical Oceanography
    203A Methods of Applied Analysis
    214A Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
    217A Atmospheric Thermodynamics
Winter
    212A Dynamical Oceanography
    203B Methods of Applied Analysis
    211A Ocean Waves
    217B Atmospheric Dynamics
Spring
    217C Climate
    212B Dynamical Oceanography
Additional courses
    221 A,B Analysis of Physical Oceanographic Data
    219 Ocean State Estimation
    236 Remote Sensing
    2 breadth courses
 


Physical Oceanography at Scripps