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Climate 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 numerical modelling, theory, and laboratory experiments in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFD) laboratory.
We are interested in problems ranging from large-scale ocean circulation to ice melting, from convection to waves and turbulence and from lava flows to climate dynamics. Come chat with us at the Jaeger 7 Building where we all sit.
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
- Ocean model development using graphical processing units (GPUs)
Affiliations and connections
Climate and Fluid Physics is a key contributor to the Consortium for Ocean and Sea Ice Modelling in Australia (COSIMA), which developed the ACCESS-OM2 suite of coupled global ocean and sea-ice models and is now working towards its next iteration, ACCESS-OM3. We also have strong connections with ACCESS-NRI.
Climate and Fluid Physics is a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes.
Our group has also close ties the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and in particular the development of the ocean component of CliMA's new Earth Systems Model.
Potential student projects
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.
- Eddies in the Southern Ocean
- Oceanic Internal Waves
- Ocean Circulation around Antarctica
- Ocean model development using graphical processing units (GPUs)
Potential student enquiries about these or other projects are always welcome. Feel free to reach out to a relevant member of our group to chat!
Visualisation galleries
Take a look at some of our modelling and laboratory flow visualisations:
Recent activity
We 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.
Leader
Researchers
- Dr Wilton Aguiar
- Dr Navid Constantinou
- Professor Andy Hogg
- Dr Wilma Huneke
- Daniel Johnston
- Dr Andrew Kiss
- Dr Nicola Maher
- Dr Adele Morrison
- Dr Kial Stewart
- Dr Thao Linh Tran
Research support officers
Students
- Ashley Barnes
- Dhruv Bhagtani
- Jemma Jeffree
- Xuehan Kang
- Hangyu Meng
- Jemima Rama
- Polina Sholeninova
- Jim Sweetman
- Claire Yung
Visitors and affiliates
| Project | Status |
|---|---|
| Climate & Fluid Physics | Potential |
| Melting of Ice Sheets | Current |
| Ocean feedbacks to Antarctic ice melt | Current |
| Ocean internal waves and turbulence | Current |
| Ocean modelling with graphical processing units (GPUs) | 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 |
