Evan Weller

Modern Mathematical Methods in Physical Oceanography Summer School
Breckenridge, Colorado, August 13-22, 2006

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The summer school provided graduate students with an exciting survey of recent developments in this area and the leading scientists in this field of work. Mathematical topics that were covered included turbulence, dynamical systems theory, stochastic differential equations, numerical analysis, control and sensitivity theory and information theory. These methods were introduced and then discussed in depth involving application to relevant areas of physical oceanography including numerical ocean modelling, ocean general circulation theory, mixing processes, predictability, data assimilation as well as stochastic and chaotic climate modelling.

The summer school included about 40-45 worldwide postgraduate students and about 15 worldwide lecturers from various oceanography institutes and university departments. The structure of the school involved formal lectures during morning and daytime followed by some informal yet intense practical sessions in the afternoon. Overall the school was extremely well organised and structured, with time for further interest discussions easy and welcome. The only part of the school that was a little unbearable at times was the power struggle of the lecturers to make sure their procedures were the most correct and absorbed.

Of interest to me were the topics of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, thermocline theory, small-scale ocean circulation and wind-driven ocean circulation modelling and brief mentions of predictions of climate related processes. The main topic for the vast majority of talks were related to large ocean circulation and modelling thereof, and while not a large part of my own research topic, various avenues of new approaches to some problems in my research arose from further discussion with lecturers during the dinners and free time periods. New findings and advances in the understanding and modelling of the El Nino system and the Pacific Ocean response discussed in detail by Eli Tziperman from Harvard University was the most beneficial to my research and a few evenings were spent casually chatting about my progress and how I could further investigate these topics in my own work.

My view of the interests and range of work from the lecturers was that even though they were all concerned with similar topics, each institute or person took different approaches with respect to the theory and practice. Most were more concerned with the process of modelling and development of various aspects such as resolving eddy movement etc. in the model rather than trying to understand why the eddies exist where they are. Although modelling is of a large interest to myself, I find linking models to observational data a very important aspect of this science.

I gained a great deal from attending this summer school, both theoretical and practical, for example, among the subjects covered, turbulence and numerical analysis will be helpful to my research, as will the applications to mixing processes, data assimilation and stochastic climate modelling. I also gained valuable contacts worldwide.

Authorised by the Executive Director, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
February 8, 2011