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Research Applied Mathematics Pure Mathematics Statistics Applied Mathematics Numerical Analysis Plasma Physics Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Vortex Dynamics

Vortex Dynamics Research Group Visit the group website In our research , we study a wide range of complex, nonlinear fluid phenomena that generically occur in extremely high Reynolds number (essentially inviscid) flows, prime examples being the Earth's atmosphere and oceans and other planetary atmospheres (and oceans just in case!). Many of the problems that we deal with involve stably-stratified flows (dense fluid lying under less dense fluid), as well as rotating flows (e.g. such as arises from the Earth's rotation). We employ a variety of techniques, including mathematical analysis (asymptotic approximations, deriving simplified equations, finding exact and approximate solutions, examining the stability of equilibria, etc...) and innovative, accurate numerical methods (e.g. Lagrangian "contour-based" methods, hybrid algorithms, etc...). There is a significant collaboration with applied centres dedicated to atmosphere and ocean dynamics worldwide, including the UK Meteorological Office, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Southampton Oceanography Centre, the Universities of Reading, London and Cambridge, as well as many European, North American and Australian centres. Some of the projects that we are actively investigating include: inviscid rotating, stably-stratified (atmospheric and oceanic) turbulence shallow-water turbulence, and the cyclone-anticyclone asymmetry? the interaction between gravity waves and balanced, vortical motions a new approach to modelling internal waves in the oceans (NERC grant) wave-mean flow interaction theory jet and vortex interactions with bottom topography in the oceans vortex formation from unsteady, meandering jets the dynamical response of the stratospheric polar vortex to upward propagating waves the parametrisability of sub-grid-scale tracer behaviour (ESF grant) the development of a new weather prediction model based on "contour advection" robustness of numerical algorithms for nonlinear, non-dissipative PDEs nonlinear stability; statistically-stable vortical flows analysis and simulation of vortices possessing helical symmetry Members of the group include: Prof. David Dritschel Dr. Magda Carr Dr. Jean Reinaud Dr. Richard Scott Dr. Chuong Van Tran Dr. Stuart King Dr. Sue Liu Dr. Xavier Perrot Mr Luke Blackbourn Mr Greig Henderson Mr Daniel Lucas Miss Hanna Plotka Miss Louise Smy Previous members of the group Dr. Oliver Buhler Prof. Alex Craik Dr. Jerome Fontane Dr. William McKiver Dr. Ali Mohebalhojeh Dr. Ersin Ozugurlu Dr. Francis Poulin Dr. Riwal Plougonven Dr. Alvaro Viudez Dr. Ross Bambrey Mr David Devlin Miss Jemma Shipton Mr Robert Smith