A Frontier in Modern Oceanography: Modeling, Observing, and Assimilating Submesoscale Dynamics

See April 17 for companion public event

The ubiquitous presence of highly energetic oceanic motions on the submesoscale is a relatively recent revelation. Sharp fronts, filaments, and submesoscale vortices enhance mixing, and importantly, are often associated with intense vertical transport. Because dynamics on these scales significantly impact the ocean's biogeochemical cycle, it is necessary to incorporate such effects in the next generation of ocean climate models. Moreover, as observational networks increase in spatial resolution, prediction models need to find new ways to assimilate data from submesoscale observations. This workshop brings together scientists with expertise in the modeling and observation of submesoscale activity with others who are exploring new ideas in the assimilation of turbulent signals into prediction models. Participants address challenges and consider new models, observations, and filtering techniques. Image from the James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Convened by

• Shafer Smith, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Center for Atmosphere Ocean Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University Abu Dhabi
• Andrew Majda, Samuel F.B. Morse Professor of Arts and Science and Professor of Mathematics, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University Abu Dhabi
• Ibrahim Hoteit, Assistant Professor Earth Sciences and Engineering; Assistant Professor Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology