A dive into the ocean will pull you into its swirling currents, tug you to the freezing poles, and then drag you down into its cold, dark depths. The ocean is a dynamic fluid driven by differential solar heating that supports most life on Earth. We will unravel some of the fundamental physical processes driving ocean dynamics, including the counter-intuitive interactions between rotation, salt concentration, and temperature. We will get our hands wet with salt-fingering experiments to explore Arctic conditions and use a rotating water tank experiment to explore the nature of ocean gyres. We will also discuss how life has evolved to survive in the ocean - how are nutrients recycled, and how are whales able to communicate across vast distances? Time permitting, we will also delve into the impacts of global warming on ocean ecosystems, the challenges of environmental sustainability, and even the potential for life in the ocean of other planets or moons.
Prerequisites: High school physics (Newton's laws+mechanics) and pre-calculus.