Quasi geostrophic theory of oceans and atmosphere : topics in the dynamics and thermodynamics of the fluid earth Large scale winds and currents tend to balance Coriolis and pressure gradient forces. The time evolution of these winds and currents is the subject of the quasi geostrophic theory. Chapter 1 presents concepts and equations of classical inertial fluid mechanics. Chapter 2 deals with the equations of thermodynamics that close the governing equations of the fluids. Then the motion is reformulated in a uniformly rotating reference frame. Chapter 3 deals with the shallow water model and the homogeneous model of wind driven circulation. The chapter also describes a classical application of the Ekma Page 4 of cover