Physical%20Oceanography%20Division

1
Physical Oceanography Division
PhD-level researchers (non-IPRC) Jerome
Aucan Glenn Carter Julia Hummon Many IPRC
researchers contribute to PO strength in SOEST.

• Graduate Faculty
• Eric Firing
• Pierre Flament
• Rudolf Kloosterziel
• Roger Lukas
• Doug Luther
• Lorenz Magaard
• Jay McCreary (IPRC)?
• Margaret McManus
• Mark Merrifield
• Peter Muller
• Brian Powell (welcome!)?
• Bo Qiu
• Kelvin Richards (IPRC)?
• Niklas Schneider (IPRC)?
• Axel Timmerman (IPRC)?

2
The health of the enterprise requires diversity
and balance, within and among individuals among
observations, theory, and modeling among small
science, big science, and operational
activities and among research, teaching, and
service.

• Presentation topics illustrate the diversity, but
  are weighted towards observations, modeling, and
  operational activities.
• Peter Muller Towards a statistical mechanical
  model of the climate system
• Bo Qiu Mesoscale observations, present and
  future
• Margaret McManus Regional Coastal Ocean
  Observing System (RCOOS) development
• Doug Luther Observatories, global-scale
  observing systems future directions and
  opportunities
• Kelvin Richards and Brian Powell Regional and
  process modeling
• Roger Lukas PO graduate student recruiting and
  education
• The topics are interrelated.

3
Applying oceanography requires understanding
of ocean processes, starting from solid
theoretical underpinnings. Observing systems
(satellite altimetry) and technologies developed
for observing systems (ARGO)? contribute to
classical process-oriented studies and they will
be able to contribute even more in the future.
4
An increase in what we might call
operational oceanography is occurring, and the
question is what role we want to play. It would
be unwise as well as unpalatable for us to
abandon our interests and activities in basic
research while jumping on the observation system
bandwagon. We need to foster the development of
scientifically and economically sound observing
systems--but much of the administrative
and operational implementation should be
delegated to those more skilled in these
activities.
In parallel with the development of regional
observing systems is the growth of larger-scale
and global observing systems, usually with a
strong emphasis on climate. Satellite remote
sensing systems and the ARGO program are obvious
examples cabled ocean observatories are another.
These systems require centers of expertise
in operation, data processing, and analysis
SOEST can become a major locus of such centers.
5
Progress in numerical modeling largely involves
an inward movement to smaller spatial and shorter
temporal scales, and an outward movement to
include coupling among the ocean, atmosphere, and
land, and among physical, chemical, and
biological processes. Modeling on the regional
scale is at the forefront because it can
include both of these movements by resolving
sub-mesoscale physics, biology, and
ocean-atmosphere interaction.
6
We need to more effectively recruit top students
to learn the full range of skills required for
future professions in oceanography, from the
nuts-and-bolts operation of observation and
modeling systems to curiosity-driven research
into how the ocean works and interacts with
the atmosphere. Such recruiting, and the
education that must follow, requires improved
public relations--to make bright students aware
of the opportunities--combined with
new curricular tracks directed toward the needs
of the profession for the next few decades.
Examples include a climate track in collaboration
with meteorology, and operational tracks for the
observational and modeling segments of observing
systems.