Topics
DOFT research activities are part of the PHYSICS AND CLIMATE OF THE OCEAN topic defined in the 2014-2017 ICM Action Plan. The objective of this research is to describe and explain the physical behavior of the ocean and its role in Earth's climate, using the principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Its content can be broken down into six sub-areas:
1. LARGE-SCALE OCEAN CIRCULATION
To understand the mechanisms that control ocean circulation at large scale, particularly the transfer of properties through the ocean-atmosphere interface, the thermocline, and the deep ocean, and its role from seasonal to inter-decadal time scales. Areas of study include ENSO, NAO, the equatorial and tropical Atlantic Ocean, oxygen minimum zones, boundary currents and upwelling systems, and dense water formation.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE
The analysis of time series from both observations and numerical simulations allows investigating past (glacial-interglacial oscillations) and future ocean changes and their potential impact on the Earth system. We are evaluating statistical changes in these time series and analyzing various processes that control the Earth’s climate such as the buffering role of biogeochemical interactions and the influence of regional processes such as the Mediterranean outflow.
3. MESOSCALE AND SMALL-SCALE OCEAN PROCESSES
To understand the interactions between mesoscale structures, inertial-gravitational waves, and the distribution of nutrients, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. We use high-resolution non-hydrostatic models and ecological models. New analysis tools are being applied to the data from numerical simulations and fieldwork to characterize mesoscale horizontal mixing to help improve ocean tracer dispersion models, and to understand the interaction of physical and biological processes at small scale.
4. ADVANCED OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA PROCESSING METHODS
To obtain new and/or enhanced geophysical information from satellite and in-situ measurements for use in a wide variety of applications such as turbulence modeling and ocean-atmosphere interaction. Research activities include satellite data calibration, error measurement characterization, forward modeling, non-linear inversion of geophysical parameters, quality control, spatio-temporal averaging, mapping, and data fusion, with special focus on the European Space Agency SMOS satellite mission.
5. OCEAN MODELLING AND DATA ASSIMILATION
To design, adapt, and implement numerical simulations to analyze ocean processes at different scales, from large-scale interactions and climate evolution to mesoscale and small-scale phenomena, both in the open ocean and in coastal regions. To define and implement robust data assimilation approaches, with special interest in salinity maps from SMOS and other satellite-based ocean forcing products.
6. NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR OCEANIC, COASTAL, AND SEA ICE OBSERVATIONS
To develop ad hoc autonomous platforms and sensors for specific oceanographic monitoring purposes. To improve and enhance current instrument designs for near-surface and small-scale observations. To develop polar instrumentation, devise novel satellite methods, design seamless methods to in-situ and satellite data combination, and use geophysical models for an improved understanding of the rapidly changing Arctic climate system.
