GEO9960 – The General Circulation of the Oceans

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

The course is not taught in the spring semester 2026. 

Course content

The course will give an introduction to theories of the large-scale ocean circulation on Earth, with a principal focus on mid- and high-latitude oceans. Wind-driven and buoyancy-driven circulation regimes, including their response to changes in forcing, will be discussed. The various topics will be illuminated with examples from observations and both idealized and realistic numerical simulations.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, you will be able to

  • explain classical theories of wind and buoyancy-driven large-scale flows in the oceans
  • discuss how variable bottom topography can impact large-scale flows and alter the underlying theories
  • discuss how mesoscale eddy fluxes can impact large-scale flows
  • analyze observations and numerical simulations of real ocean flow in light of simplified theory
  • interpret and present (to colleagues) one or more scientific papers relevant to the course
  • present?a given topic in the field of ocean circulation

Admission to the course

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.

Formal prerequisite knowledge