Dynamics of Ocean Currents and Fronts

Numerical Modeling

The Oleander Project

The RAFOS Group

Remote Sensing/ Biological

Remote Sensing/ Physical

Small-Scale Mixing Processes

Demos of PO Principles

Western Boundary Currents: A Virual Poster Session

Ferry-based Observations of Estuarine Circulation

URI/GSO is at the forefront of investigation into: 

• the physics of rotating and stratified flow 
• the dynamics of strong current systems (western boundary currents, meandering jets and fronts, equatorial current systems) 
• oceanic eddy phenomena 
• development and application of new tools for oceanic research 
• circulation and dynamics on the continental shelf 
• wind-driven and buoyancy-driven large-scale circulation 
• oceanic heat transport and storage, and effects upon global climate 
• physics at the air-sea interface
  
• stirring and mixing processes in the coastal ocean
  

Examples of current research projects:

Air-Sea Interaction We study how the ocean and the atmosphere exchange energy, momentum, and various gases. In particular, our reseach focuses on how ocean surface waves, generated by wind, influence the various air-sea exchange processes.

Dynamics of Ocean Currents and Fronts Our group's aim is to understand the physics of large- and meso-scale varying currents and associated fronts in oceanic temperature and salinity fields, including meanders, rings and eddies. Observations include shipboard surveys and moored arrays of instruments especially suited to test dynamical theories in an Eulerian framework.

Numerical Modeling Group We use computer models designed to help understand the world ocean and climate change. We study the variability and dynamics of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system, in regions spanning the globe. We apply our expertise to develop new models and to apply well-established oceanographic and atmospheric models, isolating and coupling processes of small to large space and time scales.

The Oleander Project Since the Fall of 1992 a commercial freighter, the CMV OLEANDER, has been measuring upper ocean currents between New Jersey and Bermuda with an acoustic Doppler current profiler. The measurements tell us about the variability of the Gulf Stream and surrounding waters. The detailed, repeat sampling of currents allows unprecendented insight into the horizontal structure of ocean currents in the NW Atlantic.

The RAFOS group We use acoustically tracked subsurface drifters to study ocean currents. A major focus has been the meandering Gulf Stream and its continuation towards Europe and Iceland with emphasis on understanding the dynamics of cross-frontal exchange, dispersion, and mixing processes. We develop our own instrumentation and analysis techniques to meet new measurement challenges.

Remote Sensing / Biological Oceanography We use images of water-leaving radiance, as well as images of products derived from water-leaving radiance such as phytoplankton chlorophyll, to study temporal and spatial variability in the ocean. We are particularly interested in the variability of phytoplankton chlorophyll with a focus on ocean margin waters off the U.S. East Coast, open ocean waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, as well as large-scale patterns in the global ocean.

Remote Sensing/ Physical Oceanography This group uses satellite data to study the physics of the ocean. Current topics are: (1) wind forcing of the general circulation in the North Atlantic, using satellite-derived wind and surface elevation data to study Rossby wave forcing and effects of these waves on the Gulf Stream; and (2) ocean frontal dynamics, using satellite-derived sea surface temperature data to map fronts at high resolution and analyze the dominant dynamic processes.

Small-scale Mixing Processes We study turbulence and mixing, double-diffusion, internal waves and intrusions, and their influence on larger-scale ocean dynamics. Current projects include (1) tidally-driven turbulence, (2) frontal dynamics coupled with biological predator-prey interactions, (3) new instrument development to understand coastal and deep water processes, and (4) laboratory experiments on breaking internal waves.

Movies Demonstrating Physical Oceanography Principles Pictures, videos, and descriptions of experiments demonstrating some principles of physical oceanography (such as Coriolis force and geostrophic adjustment).

Western Boundary Currents: A Virtual Poster Session Web-based "virtual poster sessions" focussed on themes under the broad topic of Western Boundary Current Systems. Motivated by the information gap which exists between initial planning and conduct stages and the eventual journal publication of scientific research the poster sessions provide a mechanism to facilitate the broad exchange of ideas while they are hot.

Ferry-based Observations of Estuarine Circulation In this project (FOSTER-LIS: Ferry-based Observations for Science Targeting Estuarine Research in Long Island Sound), estuarine circulation dynamics are addressed using observations collected by a commercial passenger ferry equipped with oceanographic sensors. This unique sampling has afforded new views on the pathways and rates of exchange between coastal waters and a large estuary.