Geophysical Fluid Dynamics - Geometry and Ecology

Explore the intersection of geophysical fluid dynamics, geometry, and ecology in this 32-minute conference talk presented by Dr. Shane Ross at the Banff International Research Station. Delve into techniques for uncovering transport barriers and structures in environmental flows, with a focus on their impact on fluid-borne microbial ecology and aeroecology. Learn about challenges in forecasting atmospheric Lagrangian coherent structures, including the effects of subgrid turbulence and ensemble averaging. Discover the concept of persistent barriers and their potential role in creating diverse microbial populations. Gain insights into practical applications such as early warning systems for invasive species and forecasting sudden ecosystem changes. Examine the global transport of desert dust and its ecological implications. This talk provides a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge research at the intersection of nonlinear dynamics, dynamical systems, and environmental science.

Syllabus

Introduction.
Invasive species riding the atmosphere.
Microbes ride in clouds, catalyze rain.
Atmospheric transport of microorganisms.
Count spores, identify down to level of species.
Sources are unknown.
A classic punctuated change.
Atmospheric transport network.
Sampling biological tracers at a fixed location.
Sampling on either side of a LCS.
Effect of turbulence.
FTLE including sub-grid scale turbulence.
Forecasting atmospheric LCS.
Practical application: early warning systems.
Lagrangian transport structure and ecology.
Aeroecology and the global transport of desert dust.
Forecasting sudden ecosystem changes.
The End.