Dynamics of the Atmosphere
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this advanced course on atmospheric dynamics, moving from the general physics and large-scale phenomenology of the atmosphere to a rigorous derivation of the governing equations. Topics include the Hadley circulation and its role in general circulation, gravity and Rossby waves, the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation, atmospheric tides, the super-rotation of Venus' atmosphere, turbulence generation, and stationary waves. The quasi-geostrophic approximation is derived and applied to questions of hydrodynamic stability, from convective adjustment to climate. Historical context is woven through the discussion of each major topic and methodology. Materials include lecture notes and problem sets from MIT's course, free to access under an open license, suited to students with a background in fluid dynamics or geophysics who want a rigorous treatment of the equations behind weather and climate.