vi
Preface
Access to a standard computer is the only requirement for the completion of exercises. All computer software suites required are open-source programs being freely
available for download from the Internet. This book is designed such as to keep
financia burden for the interested reader at a minimum. Background knowledge in
scientifi computing is an advantage but not a requirement.
This book introduces the reader to conservation principles obeyed by fluid in
motion, the finite-di ference formulation of these principles, and provides the reader
with a step-to-step guide to so-called finite-di ference layer modelling. This book
details numerical methods including a floodin algorithm, semi-implicit treatments
of both the Coriolis force and bottom friction, and total-variation diminishing (TVD)
advection schemes that are absolute minimum requirements for adequate modelling
of flui processes. Further simplificatio seems not possible, but there are certainly more accurate (but also mathematically more difficult methods available.
A description of higher-order, more complex methods is beyond the scope of this
book.
I dedicate this book to my doctorfather Professor Jan O. Backhaus for his creativity and overwhelming enthusiasm which have been the prime motivation for me
to pursue a career in the fiel of physical oceanography. Many of Jan’s suggestions
and approaches to numerical modelling are implemented in this book.
Other invaluable sources of motivation behind this work are the classical books
of Henry Stommel, namely “An Introduction to the Coriolis Force” published in
1989 and co-authored by Dennis Moore, and “A View of the Sea”, published in
1987. Similar to the approach I take here, Stommel’s work underpinned theory with
computer programs, written in BASIC, that can be run by the reader for independent
studies.
Adelaide, Australia,
January 2009
J. K¨ ampf
Preface
Access to a standard computer is the only requirement for the completion of exercises. All computer software suites required are open-source programs being freely
available for download from the Internet. This book is designed such as to keep
financia burden for the interested reader at a minimum. Background knowledge in
scientifi computing is an advantage but not a requirement.
This book introduces the reader to conservation principles obeyed by fluid in
motion, the finite-di ference formulation of these principles, and provides the reader
with a step-to-step guide to so-called finite-di ference layer modelling. This book
details numerical methods including a floodin algorithm, semi-implicit treatments
of both the Coriolis force and bottom friction, and total-variation diminishing (TVD)
advection schemes that are absolute minimum requirements for adequate modelling
of flui processes. Further simplificatio seems not possible, but there are certainly more accurate (but also mathematically more difficult methods available.
A description of higher-order, more complex methods is beyond the scope of this
book.
I dedicate this book to my doctorfather Professor Jan O. Backhaus for his creativity and overwhelming enthusiasm which have been the prime motivation for me
to pursue a career in the fiel of physical oceanography. Many of Jan’s suggestions
and approaches to numerical modelling are implemented in this book.
Other invaluable sources of motivation behind this work are the classical books
of Henry Stommel, namely “An Introduction to the Coriolis Force” published in
1989 and co-authored by Dennis Moore, and “A View of the Sea”, published in
1987. Similar to the approach I take here, Stommel’s work underpinned theory with
computer programs, written in BASIC, that can be run by the reader for independent
studies.
Adelaide, Australia,
January 2009
J. K¨ ampf