The physics of waves on ocean surfaces have been broadly studied, but less is known about the internal waves that mix and brew beneath the surface. At times reaching five times the height of Niagara Falls, internal waves are fuelled by winds and gravitational forces.
Mathematician Kevin Lamb is conducting high-resolution numerical simulations to find patterns behind the often highly nonlinear behaviour of these waves. A better understanding of these waves will shed light on the role they play in large-scale ocean circulation and biological productivity.
“The world is seeking insight into how the oceans work that will help us understand the impacts of climate change on the ocean,” he says. “My mathematical models could provide a piece of this puzzle.”
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