Overview

This module is designed to give a systematic understanding of key aspects of physical oceanography of coastal waters. You will learn about tides and tidal prediction, baroclinic flows, and their role in the dispersal of marine organisms. You will learn how energy is transferred through the ocean, and how that energy can be converted into electricity through wave and tidal energy convertors. You will then go on to study the equations governing the flow of water in the ocean (the equations of motion and continuity) and learn how to solve these on a computer, including an analysis of stability. You will apply this knowledge by writing your own computer programs to solve differential equations of increasing complexity and using a computer model of flow in the Menai Strait.

Theoretical and real tides Dispersal Ocean energy (wave and tidal energy) Taylor Series Discretization Model parameterization Diffusion Stability Motion of satellites Tidal modelling Wave modelling Practical model applications

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (grades D- to D+) 1. Basic appreciation of physical processes that regulate the temporal and spatial distribution of energy in shelf sea environments. 2. Basic ability to manage your own learning and to make use of the referred research articles. 3. Ability to use numerical models to produce results.

Good (grades C- to B+) 1. Able to appreciate physical processes that regulate the temporal and spatial distribution of energy in shelf sea environments. 2. Demonstrate management of own learning and use of referred research articles. 3. Ability to use numerical models and to present the results they use in a coherent way, including reference to their relation to the real world.

Excellent (grade A- or above) 1. Considerable appreciation of physical processes that regulate energy in coastal waters. 3. Thorough demonstration of ability to manage your own learning and to make use of referred research articles. 3. Ability to use numerical models and to present the results they use in a coherent way, including reference to their relation to the real world. Additionally, show evidence that you understand how the results of the modelling depend on the equations and assumptions used in the model and to give examples of how these constraints affect the results.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to appreciate how to simulate and validate numerical models of waves and tides.

• Students should be able to appreciate the role of the seasons in governing temporal variations in stratification and associated secondary flows.

• Students should be able to make quantitative predictions about the physics of coastal waters by solving the governing equations numerically.

• Students should be able to manage their own learning and to make use of referred research articles.

• Students should be able to prepare, process and present data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques and packages.

• Students should be able to solve numerical problems using computer and non-computer based techniques.

• Students should be able to write and debug their own computer programs.

• Students should develop an understanding of physical processes that regulate the temporal and spatial distribution of energy in shelf sea environments.