Dynamics of Jets and Vortices: Geophysical and Astrophysical Investigations

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The melting of sea ice in the Canadian Arctic is one of the biggest climatological problems we face. The more accurately we can predict the changes in sea ice, the more likely we will be able to develop a strategy to adapt to these changes. This includes changes in water levels and the impact on the Arctic waters and ecosystem. In order to address this climatological issue, the proposed research program will examine some oceanographic features that are paramount in distributing heat, as well as other fluid properties within the oceans: oceanic jets (currents) and vortices. A primary example of a jet is the Gulf Stream, which is known to produce Gulf Stream rings; these are examples of vortices. Simulating the dynamics of oceanic jets and vortices is known to be a very challenging mathematical problem, but the more accurately we can do this the better we can predict changes in both climate and weather. This research program will focus primarily on accurately simulating the genesis, interactions and death of these coherent structures in the oceans. Another aspect of this research program is to the study of jets and vortices in the thin layer of a star (i.e. the solar tachocline). This region of strong shear generates an abundance of turbulence and is known to play an important role in generating the magnetic field of stars. This subsequently impacts the generation of sun spots which, some have claimed, play a role in our changing climate. The proposed research program will investigate the dynamics of the following distinct but very closely related problems: 1) oceanic jets, 2) oceanic vortices, 3) planktonic ecosystems in jets and vortices below sea ice, and 4) jets and vortices in the solar tachocline. Investigating the dynamics of these systems and their interactions will enable the community to better understand how these structures transport and mix heat, and how we can more accurately parameterize their effects in general circulation models. The research will benefit Canada by improving our ability to accurately predict the evolution of the Arctic waters. This will assist in improving our ability to simulate our changing climate, which depends strongly on both the physical and biological aspects of the oceans. A long term goal of this program is to learn to better adapt to our changing climate in the Arctic waters. Graduate students working in this research group will develop expertise in two important areas: 1) using and developing numerical models to simulate flows in the real world and, 2) understanding the physics of coherent structures and how best to model them. This research program will position them for continued studies in academia, as well as roles as researchers for governmental agencies such as Environment Canada in the growing field of climate studies. The knowledge gained will also position students for a variety of careers including Computational Scientist, Data Scientist and Software Engineer.