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» Climate and Fluid PhysicsClimate and Fluid Physics
A high resolution (1/20°) simulation showing eddies and jets in the Southern Ocean.
On a research cruise through Neumayer Channel, Antarctic Peninsula.
Modelling dense water overflows in the Ross Sea
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current from ACCESS-OM2 simulations
On board the Laurence M. Gould, on route to Palmer Station, Antarctica.
Sea ice in the Antarctic from ACCESS-OM2 simulations
Relative vorticity in the East Australia Current from ACCESS-OM2 simulations
Baroclinic instability in the GFD Lab
GFD Lab: Fluid dynamics in a rotating frame
The Climate and Fluid Physics group carries out research on fluid flow problems relevant to Earth, using both numerical modelling and laboratory experiments in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFD) laboratory.
We are interested in problems ranging from ocean circulation to ice melting, from convection to waves and turbulence and from lava flows to climate dynamics. You can find us in the Jaeger 7 Building.
Research topics
Below is a non-exhaustive listing of the research carried out by the Climate and Fluid Physics group. Click on the links for more information about a specific topic.
- Southern Ocean Circulation
- Internal Waves and Turbulence
- Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Sea Surface
- Ocean Convection
- Melting of ice sheets
Potential student projects
We are currently advertising PhD top-up scholarships for 2021.
Student projects at the undergraduate, Honours, Masters and PhD levels are available in many areas related to Climate and Fluid Physics, including the research topics listed above. Below are a few examples of potential projects.
- Regional Hydrological Studies
- Eddies in the Southern Ocean
- Oceanic Internal Waves
- Ocean Circulation around Antarctica
Potential student enquiries about these or other projects are always welcome. Please contact a relevant member of our group (go to the Members tab above).
Visualisation galleries
Take a look at some of our modelling and laboratory flow visualisations:
Recent activity
The group's Google Scholar profile listing publications by current group members is here.
Climate and Fluid Physics Seminars are held sporadically, sometimes on a monthly basis. We also hold weekly group meetings. A full schedule of all our activities is available in our Google calendar.
Climate and Fluid Physics hold regular social events including dinners, annual retreats, and ski trips. A gallery of the group's social activities is here.
Affiliations
Climate and Fluid Physics is a key contributor to the Consortium for Ocean and Sea Ice Modelling in Australia (COSIMA), which is building the ACCESS-OM2 suite of coupled global ocean and sea-ice models.
Climate and Fluid Physics is a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes.
Leader
Researchers
Research support officers
Students
- Ashley Barnes
- Dhruv Bhagtani
- Hangyu Meng
- Jemima Rama
- Polina Sholeninova
- Jim Sweetman
- Nick Velzeboer
- Claire Yung
- Fan Zhang
Visitors and affiliates
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Climate & Fluid Physics | Potential |
| Melting of Ice Sheets | Current |
| Ocean Convection | Current |
| Ocean feedbacks to Antarctic ice melt | Potential |
| Ocean internal waves and turbulence | Current |
| Oceanic internal waves: energy, mixing and momentum | Potential |
| Southern Ocean Circulation | Current |
| The Climatic Influence of Eddies in the Southern Ocean | Potential |
| The dynamics and thermodynamics of the sea surface | Current |
