Date

Talk

Thursday
Jan 15

Estuarine Exchange Between a Semi-tropical Lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico

LT. Patrick Murphy
NOAA Corps

Three 24-hour surveys were conducted in St. Andrew Bay, Florida to describe the tidal and non-tidal circulation patterns and determine the factors that affect these patterns. In addition, one acoustic Doppler current meter was deployed for two months at the boundary between St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to understand long-term exchange patterns. Observed velocities were fitted to diurnal and semidiurnal harmonics separating tidal from sub-tidal motions. Residual flows were compared to an analytic model that allowed variations in the relative contributions from Coriolis acceleration and friction using the Ekman number. The consistency of the mean pattern from October to March suggests that tides play a minor role in modulating the exchange flow. Deviations from the long-term mean are mainly caused by wind driven coastal setup and setdown.

Following his presentation LT Murphy will talk about career opportunities in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.

Thursday
January 22

Atomville & Falling Bodies: A Different Approach To Physics Outreach

Jill Linz
Skidmore College

Many different Physics Outreach programs have been initiated by physics departments throughout the country in an effort to combat the lack of progressive physics education at the elementary and high school levels. The success of these programs relies solely on the dedication of the program developer. The amount of work required of these programs is generally done on a volunteer basis and is often very time consuming. Atomville and Falling Bodies are outreach programs designed to exist on a self-sustaining basis. Teachers and students are drawn into the subject matter via story telling and humor using print and video. Hands on experiments that demonstrate the principles used in the story are demonstrated on video.

Thursday
January 29

No Colloguium

Thursday
February 5

No Colloquium

Thursday
February 12

No Colloquium

Thursday
February 19

From the a meson to the Z boson: The Standard Model of Particle of Physics

Melissa Anderson
Union College

The Standard Model of Particle Physics gives us a picture of the fundamental building blocks of matter and how they interact. It links three of the fundamental forces together: electromagnetic, weak, and strong. I will talk about the history and one of the violations of this model. I will also give a brief overview of my connection to the Standard Model.

Thursday
February 26

Founders Day

Dr. James McPherson

Thursday
March 5

No Colloquium

Allan Weatherwax will be rescheduled for Fall Term 2009.