Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The mean spatio-temporal variability in flow, temperature, salinity, nutrients, sediments, oxygen etc., in coastal seas is largely determined by small-scale fluctuating turbulent processes. It is qualitatively understood that in these environments turbulence can be induced by tidal currents, wind, surface and internal wave breaking and current shear. However, the quantitative picture of how turbulent fluctuations are being produced and how the energy is dissipated is fundamentally not well undertstood. This lack of understading and predictability of small-scale processes limits our skills in simulating and predicting the mean state of coastal oceans. The goal of this research is to develop new theories and models of ocean turbulence and to tests them against field measurements. This will be done by carrying out computer simulations of coastal flows and by deploying in the ocean state-of-the-art instrumentation to measure turbulent properties. In the long run, the hope is that the results of this research will help to foresee more accurately the state of Canada's coastal ocean and the dynamics of its marine ecosystem. A better understanding of coastal zones will help manage fish resources and the impact and adaptability to climate change scenarios.