Eric A. D'Asaro
	Professor, School of Oceanography Oceanographer, Applied Physics Laboratory University of Washington

Research Interests

My research centers on understanding mixing in the ocean. This spans a wide number of environments from upper ocean mixed layers to nearshore coastal fronts to fjords to deep convection. It necessarily includes studies of both turbulence and internal waves, and most importantly, their interactions. I also study the role of these physical processes in controlling biological productivity using floats equipped with biological and chemical sensors.

I build instruments to measure ocean mixing, most recently, "Lagrangian Floats", which try to accurately follow the three dimensional motion of water parcels in regions of strong mixing. This turns out to be a novel but effective way to measure turbulence in regions of strong mixing. A picture of one model is shown to the right. Here's a description of the various types of floats that we've built with links to science discussions and copies of some papers that resulted.

Lagrangian techniques have not been used very much in measuring mixing and turbulence. Accordingly one of the more exciting aspects of this work is learning how to use Lagrangian floats in the ocean. This understanding draws both upon basic ideas in fluid mechanics and upon our understanding of mixing in the ocean. It strongly influences how we design the floats, how we use them and what oceanographic problems we try to study. The work thus spans a wide range of topics, from fluid mechanics to oceanography to engineering. That makes it particularly fun and interesting.

Chemical species in the ocean and many microbial plants and animals drift with the ocean currents. Floats mimic this behavior, making them excellent platforms for studying aspects of ocean chemistry and biology. There is an ongoing revolution in these fields as electronic sensors become capable of making measurements formerly possibly only in the laboratory. Floats equipped with such sensors are potentially very powerful tools. I am working to realize this potential. This is especially challenging (and fun!) as I now work with ocean biologists and chemists to design and operate multidisciplinary floats.

The North Atlantic Bloom Experiment - Floats and gliders team up to tackle a big job! Link to the experiment collaboratory.

Testimonial about "James Bond" Floats HERE!

FLASH! Floats measure 150m underwater waves! Cheezy Animation!

Some research projects are described at these links:

Labrador Sea Deep Convection (1997-8)

Separating Waves and Turbulence in Stratified Flows

Solitary Waves and Bores in Knight Inlet (1995)

Upwelling Off Oregon (2000-2001)

Hurricane Dennis (1999)

Hurricane Frances (CBLAST 2002-2004). Physics and Gas exchange

Oregon Biofloat (2001)

Weddell Sea Convection - MAUDNESS

3-D Evolution of Intrusions in Puget Sound (2004)

Eastern Equatorial Pacific Mixing