Geophysical fluid dynamics

Geophysical fluid dynamics studies motion in planetary atmospheres and oceans, where rotation, stratification, gravity, and boundaries shape large-scale flows.

Coriolis effect: The apparent deflection of moving objects in a rotating reference frame. Planetary rotation deflects horizontal currents and helps set their large-scale balance.
Fluid mechanics: The study of fluids at rest and in motion, including liquids and gases. Geophysical fluid dynamics applies fluid mechanics to planetary settings and their dominant forces.
General circulation of the atmosphere: The large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation that transports energy and momentum around a planet. Its jets and overturning cells emerge from rotation, heating, and stratification.
Nonrotating fluid dynamics: The study of fluid motion without including effects from rotation of the reference frame. It omits the Coriolis constraints that distinguish many planetary-scale flows.
Geostrophic balance: A balance between pressure-gradient force and Coriolis force in rotating fluids. It explains why large-scale atmospheric and oceanic flows often follow pressure contours.
Navier–Stokes equations: A set of equations describing fluid motion through momentum conservation, with pressure and viscous stresses. They provide the governing momentum equations from which geophysical approximations are derived.
Ocean circulation: The movement of seawater through global and regional currents, driven by winds, density differences, tides, and other forces. Its currents and overturning circulation are central geophysical-fluid applications.
Turbulence: Irregular fluid motion featuring interacting fluctuations across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Geophysical flows can be turbulent, but their rotation and stratification make that turbulence anisotropic.
Rossby number: A dimensionless ratio comparing fluid inertia with effects of rotation. It indicates when rotation strongly constrains a flow and when inertia matters more.
Hydrostatic balance: A balance between vertical pressure gradients and gravity in a fluid. It is a common approximation for large-scale atmospheric and oceanic motions.

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