Astrophysical and Geophysical Flows as Dynamical Systems. 1998 Summer Study Program in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

摘要

Astrophysical and Geophysical Flows as Dynamical Systems was the theme of the 1998 GFD Summer Program. With Antonello Provenzale at the helm we sailed headlong into the nonlinear world of astrophysical and geophysical fluid mechanics. Simultaneously, Charles Tresser gave several energetic presentations surrounding the dynamics of circle maps. Unfortunately our third planned speaker, John David Crawford, fell ill just prior to the program and could not participate. Sadly, John David passed away later in the summer. We will remember him at GFD from the excellent lectures he gave at the cottage during the summer of 1993. In a departure from usual practice, and in an effort to lend more coherence to the, at times, very wide ranging topics discussed at Walsh, GFD 98 included three 'theme weeks.' The first, championed by Steve Meacham, organized a week long series of lectures on climate dynamics. Alastair Rucklidge subsequently gathered together several experts on bifurcation and pattern theory. Lastly, Diego del Castillo-Negrete organized the 'Mixing Week.' These themes, and especially the third, proved so popular that we doubled the total number of visitors to the program. In tandem to the extensive seminar schedule, the Fellows progressed significantly in their projects; their reports reflect the impressive progress made. Overall, I believe that 1998 was a particularly productive summer.