CAREER: Langmuir Circulation--Internal Wave Interactions

这个职业项目是一个研究和教育的综合项目，将提高我们对海洋混合层的理解，吸引学生学习技术学科，并为这些学生提供批判性思维策略。该研究项目的学术价值来自于简化海洋模式的表述和第一性原理分析，以研究朗缪尔环流-内波相互作用在混合层-跃层耦合中的作用。朗缪尔环流是一种对流运动，由一个反向旋转的、大致与风对齐的涡旋系统组成，它主导着观测到的上层海洋的运动学。最近的理论、计算和观测证据表明，在整个混合层中迅速重新分配质量、动量和能量的最大涡旋可能与在跃层中传播的内部重力波相互作用。Farmer的显著观察推动了过程研究，并为模型比较提供了高质量的数据。一系列初级和次级稳定性研究、渐近分析和二维数值模拟将用于确定朗缪尔环流-内波耦合是否可以改变表层内部和之下的混合和输送，例如通过改变涡旋系统的增长率或稳定性，或者通过增加跃层内的小尺度内波活动。这些理论研究将为未来现实海洋条件下混合层-跃层耦合的大涡模拟和观测提供有益的基础。该教育计划的目标是为高中科学教师提供培训，鼓励学生追求技术职业，并通过促进积极的综合学习，更好地使这些学生能够批判性地思考基本的技术概念。这些目标将通过一种主要围绕技术和环境中的流动浪潮主题的方法来实现。将为高中生、本科生和研究生创造大量机会参与基于项目的学习体验，包括：理论海洋学研究，实际操作波浪演示的构建和使用，以及在多功能计算环境MatLab中开发非线性波传播的分析-数值模型。其他教学改革，包括使用定期概念测验和写作作业，将在首席调查员教授的热流体课程中实施。这一职业发展计划的更广泛的影响包括其潜力：改进用于天气、气候、生物过程和污染物扩散数值模拟的混合层参数化；促进理论、计算和观测海洋学家之间的网络；为本科生和研究生提供理论海洋学方面的培训；通过教师培训为高中生提供真实的科学经验；将改进的教学方法纳入课堂；为首席研究员终身为教学和研究作出综合贡献奠定坚实的基础。

0348981This CAREER project is an integrated program of research and education that will improve our understanding of the oceanic mixed layer, attract students to technical disciplines, and equip such students with critical thinking strategies. The intellectual merit of the research program derives from the formulation and first-principles analysis of simplified ocean models to investigate the role of Langmuir circulation-internal wave interactions in mixed layer-pycnocline coupling. Langmuir circulation is a convective motion, consisting of a system of counter-rotating, roughly wind-aligned vortices, that dominates the observed kinematics of the upper ocean. Recent theoretical, computational and observational evidence suggests that the largest vortices, which rapidly re-distribute mass, momentum and energy throughout the mixed layer, may interact with internal gravity waves propagating in the pycnocline. The remarkable observations of Farmer motivate the process studies and provide high-quality data for model comparisons. A complement of primary and secondary stability studies, asymptotic analyses and two-dimensional numerical simulations will be used to establish whether Langmuir circulation-internal wave coupling can alter mixing and transport within and beneath the surface layer, e.g. by modifying the growth rate or stability of the vortex system, or by increasing small-scale internal-wave activity within the pycnocline. These theoretical studies should provide a useful foundation for future large-eddy simulations and observations of mixed-layer-pycnocline coupling under realistic oceanic conditions. The objectives of the educational program are to provide training for high school science teachers, to encourage students to pursue technical careers and to better enable these students to think critically about fundamental technical concepts by promoting active, integrative learning. These goals will be achieved through an approach largely centered around the theme of Fluid Waves in Technology & the Environment. A host of opportunities will be created for high school, undergraduate and graduate students to participate in project-based learning experiences, including: research in theoretical oceanography, construction and use of hands-on wave demonstrations, and development of analytical-numerical models of nonlinear wave propagation in the versatile computing environment MATLAB. Additional pedagogical reforms, including the use of regular concept quizzes and writing assignments, will be implemented in the thermal-fluids courses taught by the principal investigator. The broader impacts of this CAREER development plan include its potential: to improve mixed-layer parameterizations used in numerical modeling of weather, climate, biological processes and pollutant dispersal; to foster networks among theoretical, computational and observational oceanographers; to provide training for undergraduate and graduate students in theoretical oceanography; to provide authentic science experiences for high school students through teacher training; to incorporate improvements in pedagogy into the classroom; and to provide a firm foundation for the principal investigator to make a lifetime of integrated contributions to teaching and research.