AOSC Seminar by Dr. Baylor Fox-Kemper, 8/31/2023

AOSC Seminar

Dr. Baylor Fox-Kemper

Brown University

Title:

Affronting Ocean Models: Submesoscale Interactions between Fronts, Instabilities, and Turbulence

Abstract:

Ocean fronts--sharp horizontal gradients in temperature, salinity, and density--are a key feature of the upper ocean that affect the transport of pollutants and the nature of the near surface flows. I will highlight some of the recent modeling and theoretical work our group and collaborators have taken on to understand how fronts, frontal instabilities, and turbulence interact. Traditional geophysical boundary layer theory neglects horizontal variations, and so is unable to capture frontal dynamics. Some consequences of fronts for the study of oil, plastics and biological tracer dispersion; boundary layers; fluid energy cycling and dissipation statistics; and finally climate sensitivity will be elucidated.

Bio:

Baylor studies the physics of the ocean and how the ocean fits into the Earth's climate system, using models that range from the global scale to focused process models that apply universally. Baylor is the co-chair of the World Climate Research Program’s Earth System Modelling and Observations Project, and he was a coordinating lead author of the “Ocean, Cryosphere, and Sea Level Change” chapter of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

Contact: Jacob Wenegrat

If you are not subscribed to seminar announcements and need a link to this online seminar please contact aosc-helper. You can also subscribe to weekly links and announcements below. 

AOSC Seminar

Pre-seminar refreshment: N/A
Seminar: 3:30-4:30pm, Room: ATL 2400(only when in-person)
Meet-the-Speaker: 4:30-5:00pm, Room: ATL 3400(only when in-person) [For AOSC Students only]

[ Subscribe to receive seminar announcements | Email aosc-deptseminar@umd.edu to give a seminar ]