Geophysical fluid dynamics illustrates the rich interplay between mathematical analysis, nonlinear dynamics, statistical theories, qualitative models and numerical simulations. This self-contained introduction will suit a multi-disciplinary audience ranging from beginning graduate students to senior researchers. It is the first book following this approach and contains many recent ideas and results.

Non-Linear Dynamics in Geophysics Jacques Dubois Although initiated in the 1960s by the studies of Richardson and Mandelbrot, the study of natural phenomena using the mathematical tools employed for the understanding of ‘chaos’ is comparatively recent. Indeed the field of applications for such techniques is very large because many natural phenomena exhibit chaotic dynamics. In Non-Linear Dynamics in Geophysics, Jacques Dubois presents a new approach to the study of complex, time-dependent natural systems, which are of considerable importance for understanding the solid Earth. He discusses the results of more than ten years’ of studies into the applications of non-linear dynamics theory to a wide range of geophysical systems in areas such as geomorphology, vulcanology, seismology, geomagnetism and natural hazard assessment. The book is divided into four parts, and represents the state-of-the-art in this discipline. The first part is devoted to general theoretical notions and tools: measures, dimensions, fractal sets, dynamic systems, limit cycles and attractors, multi-fractals and wavelet transforms. It is here that the notion of chaos is introduced, and where paths to chaos and chaos control are discussed. Part two describes the applications of these powerful techniques to geophysics: geomorphology, fragmentation, tectonics, seismicity, volcanic eruptions, seismic forecasting algorithms, and geomagnetism. The third part aims at a synthesis and a list of the perspectives offered by this approach. The book concludes with a few traditional illustrations of non-linear dynamics and several theoretical appendices. Readership: Final year undergraduate and postgraduate students of geology, geophysics and the Earth sciences, and scientists studying in these and related areas such as tectonics, seismology and geomagnetism. Industrial experts working on natural hazard and risk assessment, namely fracturing of rocks, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and self-organised criticality applied to natural catastrophes. Mathematicians and mathematical physicists interested in applications of non-linear dynamics theory.

This work comprises the proceedings of a conference held last year in Rhodes, Greece, to assess developments during the last 20 years in the field of nonlinear dynamics in geosciences. The volume has its own authority as part of the Aegean Conferences cycle, but it also brings together the most up-to-date research from the atmospheric sciences, hydrology, geology, and other areas of geosciences, and discusses the advances made and the future directions of nonlinear dynamics.

consequences of broken symmetry -here parity-is studied. In this model, turbulence is dominated by a hierarchy of helical (corkscrew) structures. The authors stress the unique features of such pseudo-scalar cascades as well as the extreme nature of the resulting (intermittent) fluctuations. Intermittent turbulent cascades was also the theme of a paper by us in which we show that universality classes exist for continuous cascades (in which an infinite number of cascade steps occur over a finite range of scales). This result is the multiplicative analogue of the familiar central limit theorem for the addition of random variables. Finally, an interesting paper by Pasmanter investigates the scaling associated with anomolous diffusion in a chaotic tidal basin model involving a small number of degrees of freedom. Although the statistical literature is replete with techniques for dealing with those random processes characterized by both exponentially decaying (non-scaling) autocorrelations and exponentially decaying probability distributions, there is a real paucity of literature appropriate for geophysical fields exhibiting either scaling over wide ranges (e. g. algebraic autocorrelations) or extreme fluctuations (e. g. algebraic probabilities, divergence of high order statistical moments). In fact, about the only relevant technique that is regularly used -fourier analysis (energy spectra) -permits only an estimate of a single (power law) exponent. If the fields were mono-fractal (characterized by a single fractal dimension) this would be sufficient, however their generally multifractal character calls for the development of new techniques.

How nonlinear dynamics and statistical mechanics can be applied to geophysical fluid dynamics.

The vulnerability of our civilization to earthquakes is rapidly growing, rais ing earthquakes to the ranks of major threats faced by humankind. Earth quake prediction is necessary to reduce that threat by undertaking disaster preparedness measures. This is one of the critically urgent problems whose solution requires fundamental research. At the same time, prediction is a ma jor tool of basic science, a source of heuristic constraints and the final test of theories. This volume summarizes the state-of-the-art in earthquake prediction. Its following aspects are considered: - Existing prediction algorithms and the quality of predictions they pro vide. - Application of such predictions for damage reduction, given their current accuracy, so far limited. - Fundamental understanding of the lithosphere gained in earthquake prediction research. - Emerging possibilities for major improvements of earthquake prediction methods. - Potential implications for predicting other disasters, besides earthquakes. Methodologies. At the heart of the research described here is the inte gration of three methodologies: phenomenological analysis of observations; "universal" models of complex systems such as those considered in statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics; and Earth-specific models of tectonic fault networks. In addition, the theory of optimal control is used to link earthquake prediction with earthquake preparedness.

The rotating shallow water (RSW) model is of wide use as a conceptual tool in geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD), because, in spite of its simplicity, it contains all essential ingredients of atmosphere and ocean dynamics at the synoptic scale, especially in its two- (or multi-) layer version. The book describes recent advances in understanding (in the framework of RSW and related models) of some fundamental GFD problems, such as existence of the slow manifold, dynamical splitting of fast (inertia-gravity waves) and slow (vortices, Rossby waves) motions, nonlinear geostrophic adjustment and wave emission, the role of essentially nonlinear wave phenomena. The specificity of the book is that analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches are presented together and complement each other. Special attention is paid on explaining the methodology, e.g. multiple time-scale asymptotic expansions, averaging and removal of resonances, in what concerns theory, high-resolution finite-volume schemes, in what concerns numerical simulations, and turntable experiments with stratified fluids, in what concerns laboratory simulations. A general introduction into GFD is given at the beginning to introduce the problematics for non-specialists. At the same time, recent new results on nonlinear geostrophic adjustment, nonlinear waves, and equatorial dynamics, including some exact results on the existence of the slow manifold, wave breaking, and nonlinear wave solutions are presented for the first time in a systematic manner. · Incorporates analytical, numerical and experimental approaches in the geophysical fluid dynamics context· Combination of essentials in GFD, of the description of analytical, numerical and experimental methods (tutorial part), and new results obtained by these methods (original part)· Provides the link between GFD and mechanics (averaging method, the method of normal forms); GFD and nonlinear physics (shocks, solitons, modons, anomalous transport, periodic nonlinear waves)