Module 1: Ocean sciences and the scope of physical oceanography: World Ocean, origin, history of oceanography, challenges. Seawater and its properties: Temperature: definition, measurements, distribution, Salinity, pressure, depth, density. Pressure effects on temperature and density. TS Diagrams, water types, and water masses. [8 Hrs]
Module 2: Sound in the sea, Light in the sea, Colour of seawater. Temperature, Salinity and density distributions. Transparency of seawater. Heat budget of the oceans: Heat budget terms, Short and Long wave radiation, Evaporation, Heat conduction. Ocean Waves and Tides. [8 Hrs]
Module 3: The equation of motion in oceanography: The non-linear terms in the equation of motion, scaling and the Reynolds Number, Reynolds stresses, equations for the mean or average flow, Reynolds stresses and eddy viscosity, scaling the equations of motion Rossby number, Ekman number, effects of rotation. Currents without friction geostrophic flow. [7 Hrs]
Module 4: Currents with friction wind driven circulation: Nansen's qualitative argument, the equation of motion with friction included, Ekman's solution to the equation of motion with friction present. Ekman transport, upwelling and downwelling away from boundaries. Sverdrup's solution for the wind-driven circulation, application of the Sverdrup equations, the mass transport stream function. Westward intensification—Stommel's contribution, the planetary wind field and the drag coefficient CD, Munk's solution, comments on Munk's solution. Vorticity: relative, planetary, absolute and potential. Westward intensification of ocean currents explained using conservation of vorticity. Oceanic mesoscale eddies, formation of sub-tropical gyres, equatorial current systems, monsoonal winds and currents over the North Indian Ocean Somali current Southern Ocean - Swells. [13 Hrs]

1. The main objective of this course is to provide a broad background of the concepts of Physical Oceanography, including topics such as observation instruments, seawater properties, basic theories of ocean dynamics, and major ocean currents.

2. This course aims to introduce the concepts of dynamics of Ocean as it relates to oceanic flows. The focus of the course is understanding the basic concepts in fluid dynamics, such as dynamical components of the equations of motion, Lagrangian vs. Eulerian motion, vorticity dynamics, Ekman dynamics, rotating waves, basin scale circulation and quasi-geostrophic dynamics, the effects of stratification and the use of layer models, instability theory, and turbulent mixing.

CO1: To introduce the oceanic instrumentation and measurement techniques.
CO2: To understand the physical and dynamical properties of seawater and to provide broad concepts of ocean circulation characteristics, wind-driven waves and tides.
CO3: Understanding the dynamics of geostrophic currents and their estimation.
CO4: Attain a clear understanding of the dynamics of wind-driven ocean circulation and explain the process responsible for westward intensification.
CO5: To apprehend oceanic heat budget components and effects of global warming on oceans.

Talley L. D., G. L. Pickard, W. J. Emery and J. H. Swift, Descriptive Physical Oceanography, Elsevier Academic Press

Pond S. and G. L. Pickard, Introductory dynamical oceanography, Butterworth-Heinemann

Neumann G, Ocean currents, Elsevier Publishing Company

Reddy M, Descriptive Physical Oceanography, Oxford and IBH Publishing Company