The Physical Oceanography Division (PhOD) is a part of the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) together with the Ocean Chemistry and Hurricane Research Divisions. The Physical Oceanography Division carries out interdisciplinary scientific investigations of the physics of ocean currents and water properties, and on the role of the ocean in climate, extreme weather events, and ecosystems. The tools used to carry out these studies range from sensors on deep ocean moorings to satellite-based instruments to measurements made on research and commercial shipping vessels and autonomous vehicles, and include data analyses and numerical modeling as well as theoretical approaches.
Some of the major areas of research in PhOD:
- The dynamics and variability of ocean currents;
- The redistribution of heat, salt and momentum through the oceans;
- The interactions between oceans, atmosphere, and coastal environments;
- The influence of climate variability on the ocean ecosystems, hurricanes and tornadoes;
These studies have important applications to ecosystems, extreme weather events, and global climate. To learn more about our work, please click the links on the left or the pictures on the right.
Satellite-derived Heat Content Product Developed at AOML Helps to Understand The Differences in Intensity Between Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Katrina
A news article that appeared in The New York Times on August 27 shows the ocean conditions in the Gulf of Mexico during hurricanes Katrina (August 2005) and Isaac (August 2012). The ocean conditions are depicted by the upper ocean heat content derived from satellite altimetry using a methodology developed at NOAA/AOML. The upper ocean heat content had larger values during Katrina mainly due to an anticyclonic warm ring and an extended Loop Current. These conditions, not found during the passage of Hurricane Isaac, partly contributed to the intensification of Katrina. Go
PhOD Project Report
The PhOD Research Report provides a summary and highlights of ongoing research, observational projects, and engineering developments involving PhOD investigators, science support personnel science support personnel from NOAA and UM/CIMAS, other AOML Divisions, and national and international institutions. [pdf]
Highlighted Publications
Upcoming Seminars
- No seminars scheduled at this moment
Current Job Opportunities
- Potential Upcoming Position (ZP4-5 level) [pdf]
Please go to UM Career Opportunities to apply for the CIMAS positions. For further information please contact Gustavo Goni at (305) 361-4339.