Multi-scale Models of the Benthic Boundary Layer

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My research program aims to create easy to use, open source software based on cutting edge high-order numerical methods for the simulation of flow phenomena in natural waters with a focus on lakes and the coastal ocean. I, along with my HQP, use this software in high performance computing (HPC) environments (e.g. Compute Canada) to study coherent flow structures such as nonlinear waves and hydrodynamic instabilities, which often exhibit behaviour on very different length scales (tens of meters for the internal wave body, and sub centimetre scales for the hydrodynamic instabilities in the boundary layer in the wave footprint). In the detailed proposal my planned research program is divided into three Thematic Areas: Thematic Area 1: "Boundary layer separation at the field scale", seeks to augment software tools for process studies of the bottom boundary layer so that they may seamlessly address research questions at the laboratory and the field scale.  The scientific focus is on identifying the mechanisms by which material such as sediment or dissolved oxygen concentration is transported across the bottom boundary layer. Thematic Area 2: "Layered models and event based parametrizations", seeks to develop basin scale models for moderate sized lakes.  The three fundamental technical issues to address are how to properly represent the layers that intersect the bottom topography, how to effectively model the lake bottom (for example mud), and how to efficiently parametrize mixing events in high order models. Thematic Area 3: "Lagrangian particle models with biological applications" seeks to develop modules for the software from Thematic Area 1 that faithfully represent the behaviour of swimming individuals (such as zooplankton).  The scientific focus is on cataloging and understanding the ways in which internal wave processes (shoaling, wave breaking) influence how swimming organisms aggregate in the natural environment. All three Thematic Areas build on significant progress made during the past funding cycle, and benefit from established collaborations with experimentalists and field scientists.  Unique facilities and practices developed for HQP training include theoretical coursework, computational facilities and software, and experimental facilities. The nearshore environment, while geographically a small percentage of the world's oceans both by volume and area, is an ecological giant, with high productivity for sea life in general and for the subset of species that are harvested in various fisheries (e.g. crab, oysters, lobster). The proposed research program will provide novel tools for performing process studies of the hydrodynamics of the nearshore zone, with a focus on multiple lines of converging evidence, namely multiple model types. These tools will be used to answer fundamental questions of how material is transported across the bottom boundary layer at the field scale.