Classical Mechanics in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

This new edition of Classical Mechanics in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics describes the motions of rigid bodies and shows how classical mechanics has important applications to geophysics, as in the precessions of the earth, oceanic tides, and the retreat of the moon from the earth owing to the tidal friction. Unlike the more general mechanics textbooks this gives a unique presentation of these applications. The coverage of geophysical fluid dynamics has been revised, with a new chapter on various kinds of gravity waves, a new section on geostrophic turbulence, and new material on the Euler angles, the precession and nutation of a Lagrange top, Rayleigh-Bénard convection, and the Ekman flow.

This textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate students outlines and provides links between classical mechanics and geophysical fluid dynamics. It is particularly suitable for geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography students on mechanics and fluid dynamics courses, as well as serving as a general textbook for a course on geophysical fluid dynamics.

Osamu Morita is a Guest Professor at Fukuoka University with a background in meteorology, physics and of the earth and planetary sciences.