We have several research programs investigating the physical (and biological) processes in the surfzone and riverine environments obtained in small- and large-scale field experiments. We are using innovative instrumentation to obtain new observations, such as a large number of GPS-equipped drifters and autonomous unmanned vehicles. We are investigating the Lagrangian particle statistics and mixing of pollutants in these littoral environments. Previous and new field observations will be used for research projects in the following areas: (1) rip current dynamics, which includes public safety; (2) cross-shore exchange between the surfzone and inner-shelf; (3) data assimilation between autonomous vehicles and numerical models; (4) littoral optical properties; and (5) coherent structures.

References

Brown J, et al: Journal of Geophysical Research doi:10.1029/2008JC005158, 2009

MacMahan JH, et al: Marine Geology doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2009.09.011, 2009