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PHYSICAL MODELING

Physical oceanographers at HPL also work on more traditional oceanographic problems.

Non-hydrostatic effects on coastal systems:
This is a new class of models which relaxes the traditional hydrostatic approximation, and allows for vertical acceleration of flow. NH dynamics become important when the aspect ratio (vertical versus horizontal scale) of a problem becomes close to 1. This may occur in models which seek to resolve plumes, sub-mesoscale eddies, and other small scale processes (left).

View sill-induced solitary waves* ;Strong tidal currents over sills can produce rank-ordered internal solitary waves propagating away from a sill.
(UMCES PI: Shenn-Yu Chao)

(*Real Player or Windows Media Player required.)

Turbulence and Upper Ocean Modeling:
Using Large Eddy simulations, the small scale eddies associated with turbulence and upper ocean dynamics may be investigated. http://www.hpl.umces.edu/ocean/
(UMCES PI: Ming Li)
Thermal Convection
Wave and nearshore wave-current interactions:
A novel tidal erosion-deposition model based on a recent new formulation developed by L. Sanford, coupled to a bed model showing the rapid development of sediment shear strength during slack water. The erosion formulation couples to and is paramaterized by erosion data generated with our new erosion testing device, the "Microcosm".  
(UMCES PI: Larry Sanford)


Decadal ENSO variability:
Changes in the intensity andfrequency of ENSO events may be linked to large scale climate patterns, but we do not yet understand how the two scales are linked. This research investigates the processes that may influence the temperature of the water in the equatorial Pacific thermocline. Changes in this water influence the air-sea interactions in the Pacific upwelling zone.
(UMCES PI: Victoria Coles)