1989 summer study program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics : general circulation of the oceans

The success of this summer's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Program owes much to Myrl Hendershott's excellent and engaging survey of the Oceans General Circulation, including recent developments In the Theory of Recirculation Gyres and Thermocline Ventilation.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation through Grant Number OCE-89-0101

1991 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics : patterns in fluid flow

The GFD program in 1991 focused on pattern forming processes in physics and geophysics. The pricipallecturer, Stephan Fauve, discussed a variety of systems, including our old favorite, Rayleigh-Bénard convection, but passing on to exotic examples such as vertically vibrated granular layers. Fauve's lectures emphasize a unified theoretical viewpoint based on symmetry arguments. Patterns produced by instabilties can be described by amplitude equations, whose form can be deduced by symmetry arguments, rather than the asymptotic expansions that have been the staple of past Summer GFD Programs. The amplitude equations are far simpler than the complete equations of motion, and symetry arguments are easier than asymptotic expansions. Symmetry arguments also explain why diverse systems are often described by the same amplitude equation. Even for granular layers, where there is not a universaly accepted continuum description, the appropnate amplitude equation can often be found using symmetry arguments and then compared with experiment. Our second speaker, Daniel Rothan, surveyed the state of the art in lattice gas computations. His lectures illustrate the great utility of these methods in simulating the flow of complex multiphase fluids, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. The lattice gas simulations reveal a complicated phenomenology much of which awaits analytic exploration. The fellowship lectures cover broad ground and reflect the interests of the staff members associated with the program. They range from the formation of sand dunes, though the theory of lattice gases, and on to two dimensional-turbulence and convection on planetary scales. Readers desiring to quote from these report should seek the permission of the authors (a partial list of electronic mail addresses is included on page v). As in previous years, these reports are extensively reworked for publication or appear as chapters in doctoral theses. The task of assembling the volume in 1991 was at first faciltated by our newly acquired computers, only to be complicated by hurricane Bob which severed electric power to Walsh Cottage in the final hectic days of the Summer.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation through Grant No. OCE 8901012

Dynamics of the outer planets : 1992 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

The topic this summer was "The Dynamics of the Outer Planets." Andrew Ingersoll gave an excellent review of the current understanding of the strcture of the atmospheres of Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, and Uranus. He presented the flow structures inferred from the information gathered by the Voyager probes and other observations. The models of the circulations of the interior and of the weather layer - the jets and vortices that we see in the images - were discussed. Jun-Ichi Yano gave further discussions on vortex dynamics in the lab, analytical, and numerical models as applied to the outer planets. Finally, Andy returned with a discussion of thin atmospheres (some so thin that they disappear at night) and new approaches to the dynamics of the interiors. These lectures provided a thorough background in both the data and the theory. As usual, we had talks (or what are sometimes called interactive seminars!) from many visitors during the summer, some directly related to the main topic and others covering other new research in geophysical fluid dynamics. From these, the fellows and staff found new aras for collaborative research and new ideas which they may explore after the summer. Finally, the summer was completed with talks from the fellows on their individual research during the summer. These reports reflect the thought and energy that went into learning new topics and formulating new problems. We look forward to seeing fuller versions of these in journal articles. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research. The assistance of Jake Peirson and Barbara Ewing-DeRemer, made the summer, once again, pleasant and easy for all.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE8901012

Geometrical methods in fluid dynamics : 1993 Summer study program in fluid dynamics

"Geometrcal methods in fluid dynamics" were the subject of the 1993 GFD session. Paricipants explored the applications of Hamiltonian fluid mechanics and related ideas about symmetry and conservation laws to problems in geophysical fluid dynamics. Phil Morrson and Ted Shephere offered an intensive introductory course (of which a detailed summary appears in this volume.) Subsequent lecturers explored a full range of currently interesting topics in geophysical fluid dynamics.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OCE-8901012

Summer study program in geophysical fluid dynamics : stellar fluid dynamics

The 1990 program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics had as its special topic "Stellar Fluid Dynamics". Introductory lectures by Edward Spiegel and Jean-Paul Zahn paved the way for more specialized seminars on solar oscillations, neutron stars, stellar winds, solar convection, and flows with strong magnetic fields. As usual, the lectures ranged far beyond the special topic of the summer, with GFD filling its traditional role as a clearing house for information between the various fields that share an interest in rotating, differentially-heated flows. Under the supervision of the staff members, our nine student fellows completed original reseach projects. Their report appear in the 1990 volume, along with the lecture notes of Spiegel and Zahn, and summaries of the other lectures.Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation through Grant No. OCE 8901012