Centre for Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Some research projects lie in the area of atmospheric modelling and numerical methods, relevant to weather and climate prediction, with strong links to the Met Office, Exeter.
Visualisation using the 3d visualisation package vis5d. Such sophisticated packages are needed to understand magnetic field twisting and folding in complex fluid flows.
Other research interests concern the modelling of flows in giant planets, stars and the earth's liquid metal core.
Research is complemented and informed by fundamental mathematical research into idealised problems concerning the stability, mixing & reconnection of fluid and magnetic fields.
The mixing of hot and cold fluids. Credit: Fatma Zaggout - PhD in Passive Scalar Mixing in Chaotic Flows with Boundaries
From hurricanes in the atmosphere, the Gulf Stream that crosses the Atlantic to warm our shores, to the bands visible on Jupiter, Sunspots and solar flares, fluid dynamics is a vital part of our understanding of phenomena in geophysics and astrophysics. The Centre brings together leading researchers with interests in convection, rotating fluids and magnetic phenomena.
Leading researchers
Members of the centre include internationally leading researchers, and there are formal links to the Met Office in Exeter. For example, Professor John Thuburn (Met Office Chair) is developing numerical methods for use in the Met Office Weather and Climate model. The staff also includes editors of several leading journals and authoritative texts in the area. The research is funded from several sources, including the UK Research Councils and the Met Office.
