Professor of Oceanography and Environmental Science
Option Representative: ESE;
M.S., University of Hamburg, Germany, 2011; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. Caltech, Assistant Professor, 2017-23; Professor, 2023-.
As an ocean physicist, I work to better understand the ocean's circulation and how it regulates the climate on earth. By probing the ocean with in situ and satellite observations, developing simplified dynamical models, and deploying detailed numerical simulations, I aim to extract the laws that govern this turbulent fluid.
ESE 130. Introduction to Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2021-22.Prerequisites: ESE 101 or ESE 102 and Ma 2 or equivalent (instructor's permission).
This course is an introduction to the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean, with an emphasis on dynamical concepts that explain the large-scale circulation of both fluids. Starting from the equations of motion, we will develop an understanding of geostrophic and hydrostatic balance, inertia-gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, potential vorticity, quasi-geostrophic dynamics, Rossby waves, baroclinic instability, and Ekman layers.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 131. Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2021-22.Prerequisites: ESE 102 and ESE 130, or instructor's permission.
This course gives an in-depth discussion of the fluid dynamics of the world ocean. Building on the concepts developed in ESE 130, this course explores the vertical structure of the wind-driven gyre circulation, thermocline theory, the dynamics of the Southern Ocean, eddies and eddy parameterizations, geostrophic turbulence, submesoscale dynamics, the circulation of the deep ocean, tides, internal waves, and turbulent mixing.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 130. Introduction to Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2020-21.Prerequisites: ESE 101/102 or instructor's permission.
This course is an introduction to the fluid dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean, with an emphasis on dynamical concepts that explain the large-scale circulation of both fluids. Starting from the equations of motion, we will develop an understanding of geostrophic and hydrostatic balance, inertia-gravity waves, geostrophic adjustment, potential vorticity, quasi-geostrophic dynamics, Rossby waves, baroclinic instability, and Ekman layers.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 131. Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2020-21.Prerequisites: ESE 130 or instructor's permission.
This course gives an in-depth discussion of the fluid dynamics of the world ocean. Building on the concepts developed in ESE 130, this course explores the vertical structure of the wind-driven gyre circulation, thermocline theory, the dynamics of the Southern Ocean, eddies and eddy parameterizations, geostrophic turbulence, submesoscale dynamics, the circulation of the deep ocean, tides, internal waves, and turbulent mixing.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 130. Introduction to Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); second term, 2019-20.Prerequisites: ESE 101/102 or instructor's permission.
Introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics of large-scale flows in the atmosphere. Governing equations and approximations that describe these rotation and stratification dominated flows. Topics include: conservation laws, equations of state, geostrophic and thermal wind balance, vorticity and potential vorticity dynamics, shallow water dynamics, atmospheric waves.
Instructor: Callies
ESE 131. Ocean Dynamics.9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2019-20.Prerequisites: ESE 130 or instructor's permission.
This course gives an in-depth discussion of the fluid dynamics of the world ocean. Building on the concepts developed in ESE 130, this course explores the vertical structure of the wind-driven gyre circulation, thermocline theory, eddies and eddy parameterizations, the circulation of the deep ocean, ocean energetics, surface gravity waves, tides, internal waves, and turbulent mixing.
Instructors: Callies, Thompson
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