Thisbookfocusesonthedynamicsoftheoceanbeingin?uencedbytheEarth'sro- tion and density strati?cation. Fluids in motion are a dif?cult subject of study that traditionally requires advanced knowledge of analytical mathematics, in particularly matrix algebra, differential and integral calculus, and complex analysis. Hence, this fascinating ?eld of science, known as geophysical ?uid dynamics, is accessible only to a limited number of students - those who either are naturally geniuses or those who underwent tough years of intense University study. Fluid processes are inherently complex and analytical solutions describing ?uid dynamics exist only in a few instances and only under highly simpli?ed assu- tions. Computer-based numerical models are required to approximate ?uid beh- ior in more realistic situations. Because of its complexity, universities tend to offer subjects in computational modelling of ?uid dynamics only at postgraduate level. This is a pity given that ?uid processes are truly fascinating in nature and given that the oceans play a signi?cant role in shaping life on Earth. The approach I pursue in this book is different from the traditional approach.

This book focuses on motions of incompressible ?uids of a freely moving surface being in?uenced by both the Earth's rotation and density strati?cation. In contrast to traditional textbooks in the ?eld of geophysical ?uid dynamics, such as those by by Cushman-Roisin (1994) and Gill (1982), this book uses the method of proce- oriented hydrodynamic modelling to illustrate a rich variety of ?uid phenomena. To this end, the reader can adopt the model codes, found on the Springer server accompanying this book, to reproduce most graphs of this book and, even better, to create animation movies. The reader can also employ the codes as templates for own independent studies. This can be done by a lay person as a hobby activity, undergraduate or postgraduate students as part of their education, or professional scientists as part of research. Exercises of this book are run with open-source software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet. This includes the FORTRAN 95 compiler "G95" used for execution of model simulations, the data visualisation program "SciLab", and "ImageMagick" for the creation of graphs and GIF animations, which can be watched with most Internet browsers.

This book focuses on motions of incompressible ?uids of a freely moving surface being in?uenced by both the Earth's rotation and density strati?cation. In contrast to traditional textbooks in the ?eld of geophysical ?uid dynamics, such as those by by Cushman-Roisin (1994) and Gill (1982), this book uses the method of proce- oriented hydrodynamic modelling to illustrate a rich variety of ?uid phenomena. To this end, the reader can adopt the model codes, found on the Springer server accompanying this book, to reproduce most graphs of this book and, even better, to create animation movies. The reader can also employ the codes as templates for own independent studies. This can be done by a lay person as a hobby activity, undergraduate or postgraduate students as part of their education, or professional scientists as part of research. Exercises of this book are run with open-source software that can be freely downloaded from the Internet. This includes the FORTRAN 95 compiler "G95" used for execution of model simulations, the data visualisation program "SciLab", and "ImageMagick" for the creation of graphs and GIF animations, which can be watched with most Internet browsers.