Research highlights
Subpolar gyres and overturning circulation in the Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean is arguably the central cog in the global ocean overturning circulation. In addition to connecting all the major ocean basins, the Southern Ocean facilitates the upwelling of carbon-rich waters from intermediate depths and the production of the dense bottom water that occupies most of the abyssal ocean. The Antarctic subpolar gyres bridge the regions of deep water upwelling, which mainly occurs within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), and bottom water formation, which is formed exclusively along the continental margins of Antarctica. We aim to further our understanding of the dynamical coupling between the ACC, subpolar gyres, and the Antarctic margin.
Subglacial discharge and seawater intrusions
Marine-terminating glaciers, such as those along the coastline of Greenland, often release meltwater into the ocean via subglacial discharge plumes. The conditions surrounding the genesis of these plumes remain poorly constrained, and little is known about the geometry of subglacial outlets and the extent to which seawater may intrude into them. We are interested in developing theories and models that describe the dynamics of subglacial seawater intrusions and their impact on ice-sheet stability.