Dr. Jennifer A. Shore BMath, PhD Assistant Professor

Department of Physics

Research field: Physical Oceanography

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About Me:

I am very interested in identifying and focussing on practical applications of numerical ocean models. Currently I am using a new data assimilation method to improve our predictive capabilities of Northeast Pacific ocean variability. Results from these models have consequences for ocean-climate coupled models, search and rescue operations, and eddy impacts on local biological communities and nutrient dispersal patters. I am also looking forward to exploring unstructured grid (finite volume) model applications in the Canadian Arctic.

My research primarily uses numerical models which allows me to exploit RMC's partnership with the High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory at Queens University. I am always on the lookout for keen graduate students interested in investigating fundamental physical oceanography questions.

I have tackled oceanographic problems at many different scales, from the small (waves in the nearshore) to the large (eddy transport in the open ocean); both in the lab with computers, and in the field collecting data.

I am a member of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, and the American Geophysical Union

Current and Recent Projects:

Simulation of the Northeast Pacific using The Parallel Ocean Program

During the first phase of this project, we wanted to improve eddy variability representations in a POP model of the North Pacific using a new data assimilation scheme (spectral nudging developed by Keith Thompson et al. at Dalhousie University). We've analysed the model results to draw conclusions about the instability properties of eddies along the coast of British Columbia and Alaska and are currently working with the ARGO data set to attempt to further improve our model representations.

Standard deviation of sea height predicted by our POP model in the Northeast Pacific.

During a second phase of this project, we aim to provide an improved ocean model for the North Pacific that will be used to investigate the influence that eddies generated along the British Columbia and Alaska coasts have on local biological communities. The conclusions drawn using this improved model can provide fundamental estimates of physical quantities (such as volume of shelfwaters provided to the open ocean by eddies) which will improve our knowledge of eddy-biology interactions and dependencies.

Modelling Passamaquoddy Bay

A 3-dimensional finite element circulation model (Quoddy) of Passamaquoddy Bay (on the north side of the Bay of Fundy) was expanded to allow for the flooding and drying of intertidal areas. This bay has an extensive network of intertidal flats, tidal pools and channels that become blocked at low tide. The region supports many aquaculture sites which require accurate knowledge of the local circulation and water properties.

The Nearshore Canyon Experiment

Data assimilation methods were incorporated into a state-of-the-art nearshore circulation model to create a tuned predictive model employed at the Nearshore Canyon Experiment (NCEX) in the fall of 2003 at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. A sequential estimator assimilative method was used to exploit the PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) data provided by our group to producing daily hindcasts of the circulation field. These hindcasts will provide data collection groups with information that will further illustrate the spatial and temporal character of the circulation field

Selected Recent Publications:

• Dusini, D. S., D. L. Foster, J. A. Shore and J. Lin: The effect of Lake Erie water level variations on sediment resuspension (Submitted to J. Great Lakes Research Feb. 2006).
• Shore, J. A., M. W. Stacey, D. G. Wright: Energy Sources for the Eddy Field in a Numerical Simulation of the Northeast Pacific Ocean (In Preparation for the JGR-Oceans 2006).
• Stacey, M.W., J. A. Shore, D. G. Wright K. R. Thompson: Spectral Nudging in an Eddy Permitting Model of the Northeast Pacific Ocean (Accepted JGR-Oceans Feb. 2006).
• Greenberg, D.A., J.A. Shore, F.H. Page and M. Dowd, 2005: Modelling Embayments with Drying Intertidal Areas for Application to the Quoddy Region of the Bay of Fundy., Ocean Modelling, 10(1-2), 211-231.
• Hannah, C.G., J.A. Shore, J.W. Loder and C.E. Naimie, 2001: Seasonal Circulation on the Central and Western Scotian Shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31(2), 591-615.
• Shore, J.A., C.G. Hannah and J.W. Loder, 2000: Drift pathways on the western Scotian Shelf and its environs. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 57(12), 2488-2505.
• Hannah, C.G., J.A. Shore, J.W. Loder and C.E. Naimie, 2000: The drift-retention dichotomy on Browns Bank: a model study of interannual variability. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 57(12), 2506-2518.
• Shackell, N.L., K.T. Frank, B. Petrie, D. Brickman, and J.A. Shore, 1999: Dispersal of early life stage haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) as inferred from the spatial distribution and variability in length-at-age of juveniles. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 56 (12): 2350-2361.

Jobs

I am currently looking for graduate students to work on a number of projects. These projects focus on physical oceanography topics but provide opportunities for students with interests in fluid mechanics, running numerical/computational models, data assimilation schemes, underwater acoustics, modelling physical impacts on biology, parallel ocean models or finite element/volume models, and data analysis of physical/mathematical models. I have funding for students to work on all of the following projects.

1. Modelling sound channel geometry and propagation loss in Hudson Bay.

This project is part of a larger network MITACS proposal with collaborators in major institutions across Canada. The focus of this project is to apply unstructured grid models (finite volume) to the Hudson Bay system to provide highly resolved 3-D estimates of hydrography which will be used as a jumping off point to model sound channel geometry and propagation loss in the system.

2. Modelling eddy impacts on biology in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.

We are interested in quantifying the impacts of eddy dynamics on biological communities in the Northeast Pacific. Specifically, we want to focus on entrainment, flushing (the horizontal exchange of water masses in the upper layers), transport and retention. Interesting questions are: What is the relative importance of upwelling and strong wind-forced events to flushing? How is material entrained into the eddies?

3. Evaluation of advection and diffusion schemes in the Parallel Ocean Program

This project will use a newly developed data assimilation scheme (spectral nudging) to quantify sources of errors introduced into the Parallel Ocean Program model (POP) by different advective and diffusive schemes. The correct parameterization of mixing in ocean models directly affects the representation of ocean eddies, a major component of the dynamics of the Northeast Pacific Ocean region.

If you have particular interest in some aspect of numerical modelling of ocean physics not mentioned above and you are interested in pursuing (civilian) graduate studies in the Department of Physics at the Royal Military College of Canada please get in touch by email.

Both Canadian and international students are encourage to apply. All accepted students will be provided with sufficient funding to cover tuition and living expenses.