It is this mixing that interests me and my collaborators. This turbulence is a mechanism that mixes the stratified ocean. Tidal forces deposit a vast amount of energy into the oceans, and internal waves can transport this energy hundreds or even thousands of kilometers before they become turbulent and dissipate. We have observed internal waves being generated by many mechanisms, such as river plumes pushing fresh water into salty water, but most are formed by the tides sloshing water back and forth over undersea features such as ridges and canyons.

The resulting waves are called internal waves and they behave quite differently than the familiar sea-surface waves. This steadily changing density gives rise to not one but a multitude of interfaces that can be disturbed. The ocean is stratified, with heavy cold water below and light warm water above. But below the surface, there is a very different interface that gives rise to very different waves. The most obvious example of this are the ocean’s visible surface waves at the air-sea interface. What’s one question you’re exploring?Ī: Any time two different fluids meet, it can create disturbances in the interface that travel outwards as waves. And at the same time, I’ve been able to continue my ocean modeling efforts, present at major conferences, and work with other researchers from around the world.Īlso, I am from South Philly, so returning home was a bonus! Q: T ell us a bit about your field or area of research. I was supported in my efforts to blend lectures and labs into a more active student experience and to use open-access tools and digitize course assignments. I was provided funds to better equip the physics labs. Since then, I’ve been encouraged to improve my courses in exciting ways. That was the moment I became excited about working at Jefferson. While searching for faculty positions, I read about the Nexus initiative and Jefferson’s push for active learning. I wanted to bring tech into the classroom and get the students actively talking instead of just passively listening. I don’t mean profess I mean teach! I wanted to experiment in the classroom to find what makes the students learn best. I always knew that I wanted to teach and do research. Before that, I was a math teacher at Frankford High School here in Philadelphia. Q: How long have you been at Jefferson? What led you here?Ī: I attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The ocean waves