Astrophysical and geophysical flows as dynamical systems : 1998 summer study program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

The theme of the 1998 Geophyscial Fluid Dynamics (GFD) summer program at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was Astrophysical and Geophysical Flows as Dynamical Systems. Antonello Provenzale of the Institute of Cosmogeophysics in Italy was the principal lecturer for the summer, and Charles Tresser of IBM gave a series of seminars on introductory dynamical systems theory. In addition to the usual intense schedule of seminars on a variety of unfocussed topics falling into the general theme of the summer, the program included three "theme weeks." The first was focused on climate dynamics, the second on bifurcation and pattern theory, and the third was the special "Mixing Week." Ten GFD Fellows, at various stages of their graduate work, undertook supervised research projects. This volume contains notes from the principal lectures and the Fellows' Reports.