Earth Science, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences, Nature, Marine Terrain, Mechanical Physics, Mechanical Engineering & Dynamics, Mechanical Engineering & Dynamics, Aquatic Life & Sciences, Aquatic Life & Sciences, Earth Science, Physics, Natural Terrain

Small Scale Processes in Geophysical Fluid Flows

Name: Small Scale Processes in Geophysical Fluid Flows
Author: Lakshmi H. Kantha, Carol Anne Clayson
ISBN: 9780124340701

by Lakshmi H. Kantha, Carol Anne Clayson

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Overview

While ocean waves are the most visible example of oceanic mixing processes, this macroscale mixing process represents but one end of the spectrum of mixing processes operating in the ocean. At the scale of a typical phytoplanktoic diatom or larval fish inhabiting these seas, the most important mixing processes occur on the molecular scale - at the scale of turbulence. Physical-biological interactions at this scale are of paramount importance to the productivity of the seas (fisheries) and the heat balance that controls large scale ocean climate phenomena such as El Niño and tornadoes. This book grew out of the need for a comprehensive treatment of the diverse elements of geophysical fluid flow at the microscale. Kantha and Clayson have arranged a logial exposition of the various mixing processes operating within and between the oceans and its boundaries with the atmosphere and ocean floor. The authors' intent is to develop a volume that would provide a comprehensive treatment of the fundamental elements of ocean mixing so that students, academics, and professional fluid dynamicists and oceanographers can access this essential information from one source. This volume will serve as both a valuable reference tool for mathematically inclined limnologists, oceanographers and fluid modelers.

* Simple models of oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers are discussed
* Comprehensive and up-to-date review
* Useful for graduate level course
* Essential for modeling the oceans and the atmosphere
* Color Plates

Audience: Academics, graduate students, and researchers in the engineering, atmospheric, oceanic, and earth system sciences will enjoy this mathematical treatment of the various processes and scales of turbulence and mixing in water bodies ranging from mud puddles to ocean basins.

About the Author, Lakshmi H. Kantha, Carol Anne Clayson

Dr. Kantha graduated witha Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1973. He then joined the John Hopkins Unversity and worked on problems related to mixing precesses in the oceans. In the 1980's his interest turned to numerical modeling of the oceans and he worked at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory of the Princeton University. After a brief stay at the Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, he joined the University of Colorado in 1991. He has worked closely with the Naval Oceanographic Office and the Naval Research Laboratory on operational nowcast/forecast models of the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Persian Gulf. He has received awards from the U.S. Navy for his assistance during Desert Storm. His current research interest is in combining satellite data such as from altimeters with comprehensive numerical ocean/atmosphere models for application to real time nowcast/forecasts of marginal seas. He holds an IPA appointment from the Naval Oceanographic Office and assist them on operational models of marginal seas.

Dr. Clayson graduated from the University of Colorado in 1994. Since then, she has been on the faculty at Purdue University. Her principal interests are in mixing processes, air-sea exchange and numerial models. She is a recipient of NSF Young Investigator award. She has also received awards for teaching from Purdue.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

From the Publisher

Applied Mechanics Reviews, Volume 54 (1), Jan 2001

"...well-organized, comprehensive, and up-to-date...a good addition to libraries' collections...appropriate for graduate level courses in fluid dynamics."

Physics Today

...Its authors have done an exhaustive job of reviewing the important developments in the field...a valuable service to the community. I expect this text to be the starting point for many researchers...

Stephen A. Thorpe

At the start of each chapter there are helpful references to review articles and journals in which relevant papers are commonly published. I also liked the prominence given almost every chapter to the importance of prediction - modeling the mixed layer, wave forecasting, and so on. Modeling is given high profile. The appendices contain very useful lists of quantities, constants, units, conversion factors, and equations of state and definitions of length, time, velocity scales, and nondimensional quantities. This represents a substantial effort and achievement by the authors; the length of the book alone and the number of references listed (over 1000) are evidence enough.

Booknews

Kantha (U. of Colorado-Boulder) and Clayson (Purdue U.) compile information from scattered journal articles detailing the various mixing processes operating within and between the ocean and its boundaries with the atmosphere and ocean floor. In a logical arrangement, they describe the relationships between mixing processes and the physical, chemical, and biological processes governing the interactions within and between the atmospheric and oceanic environments. Their intention was that newcomers to oceanography with the necessary background in mathematics and physics can find introductions to the various research topics without having to wade through the deluge of literature. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)