OC Research - Oceanography
Rocky Shores Experiments and Simulations (ROXSI)
The ROXSI is a multi-university research initiative focused on the littoral ocean dynamics along rocky shores, from the coastline out to ~1km offshore. Limited measurements of the wave transformation and resulting wave-driven circulation patterns that occur along the extreme rough bottom and shorelines, and these experiments will provide new observations to modify oceanographic models for rocky coasts. Local field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 in several environments around the Monterey Bay, and continues in 2024 in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ROXSI is a joint experiment with investigators from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD), Oregon State University, University of Delaware, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Stanford University / Hopkins Marine Station. ROXSI is funded by the Office of Naval Research.
Contact: Prof. Jamie MacMahan for potential thesis opportunities.
The Signatures of Submerged Objects
Any object traveling through the ocean, no matter its size, creates waves and turbulence, potentially creating long-lived disturbances. These disturbances can be measured with accurate equipment, which permits increased awareness in the ocean battlespace. Our team uses some of the fastest supercomputers in the world to simulate these objects and the fluid around them in order to characterize potential effects in the ocean and their observable diagnostics. This work has been performed in collaboration with the Office of Naval Research and with the CRUSER program with the goal of implementation into fleet readiness.
Contact: jmbrown2 ( at ) nps.edu
Interactions of Large-Scale Flows with the Rough Seafloor
Kilometer-scale features of ocean bathymetry, known as seafloor roughness, can profoundly affect larger circulation patterns. The current inability of global Navy Predictive Systems to resolve seafloor roughness compromises operational forecasts. To address this challenge, we develop innovative parameterization of the effects of roughness on larger scales of motion and implement them in the predictive ocean models. Concurrently, our efforts are expected to enhance the safety of Undersea Warfare operations in regions with irregular corrugated bathymetry. This work is supported by the Office of Naval Research and involves the collaboration with several leading US universities.
Interested NPS students are invited to pursue their thesis research on this topic.
Contact: tradko ( at ) nps.edu
Coastal Land-Air-Sea Interaction Experiment (CLASI)
The CLASI Defense Research Initiative primary objective is to improve the modeling of evaporation ducts through extensive measurements of wind, momentum and heat flux variability as it cross the shoreline. This will allow for "coast aware" improvements to numerical weather prediction models. Field experiments in FY21-22 throughout the Monterey Bay region, FY23 in Florida Gulf Coast.
CLASI is a joint experiment with investigators from the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, University of Miami, Ohio State University, University of Minnesota, and the Naval Research Laboratory, and funded by the Office of Naval Research.
Contact: Jamie MacMahan
Task Force Ocean: New England Seamounts Calibrated Acoustic Fluctuations Experiment (NESCAFE)
Located in the dynamic currents of the Gulf Stream, Southeast of Georges Bank, the New England Seamounts provide a challenging environment for studying acoustic variability, signal detection, localization and tracking in a high turbidity region with complex topography.
Acoustic and environmental moorings have been deployed around the Atlantis II seamounts to provide ocean acoustic tomography measurements in this complex region throughout the 1-year main experiment deployment, June 2024 - June 2025.
Funded by the Office of Naval Research, part of the