Current Research Variability of the coupled
atmosphere-ocean system
Learn More
Current Research Dynamics and energy budgets of oceanic
general circulation and mesoscale eddies
Learn More Image credit: NASA
Current Research Global modeling of past and present
barotropic tides
Learn More
Current Research Global modeling of internal tides and the internal gravity wave continuum Learn More Image credit: NASA

Brian Arbic Group

About Our Group Members

2017 Group Photo

We are a physical oceanography group at the University of Michigan. The main tools used by our group are numerical models, which we frequently compare to both in-situ and satellite observations. Our main research interests are in global modeling of past and present barotropic tides, global modeling of internal tides and the internal gravity wave continuum, the dynamics and energy budgets of the oceanic general circulation and mesoscale eddies (the oceanic equivalent of weather systems), and the variability of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system. We have also studied tsunamis, and we have a growing interest in the application of ocean models to deep-time Earth system science problems. Brian Arbic, the group leader, teaches introductory and advanced courses in oceanography at the University of Michigan, and founded a summer school on oceanography and environmental sciences in Ghana, West Africa.

Research Interests

Our research interests are in the variability of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system, the dynamics and energy budgets of the oceanic general circulation and mesoscale eddies (the oceanic equivalent of weather systems), global modeling of internal tides and the internal gravity wave continuum, and global modeling of past and present barotropic tides. We also have an increasing interest in the application of ocean models to deep-time Earth system science problems. Our work is relevant for understanding of processes such as mixing that impact the ocean system, for forecasting of oceanic flows and their impact on the atmosphere, and for US Navy and NASA operational systems.

Photo on beach in Ghana during the 2018 Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School In Nigeria and Ghana.

Capacity development

Learn More
Image of modeling results indicative of the Variability of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system

Variability of the coupled atmosphere-ocean system

Learn More
Image from one of David Trossman's papers, indicative of our results on the topic of Dynamics and energy budgets of oceanic general circulation and mesoscale eddies

Dynamics and energy budgets of oceanic general circulation and mesoscale eddies

Learn More
Image from Savage et al. 2017a, indicative of our results in the topic of Global modeling of internal tides and the internal gravity wave continuum

Global modeling of internal tides and the internal gravity wave continuum

Learn More
Image from Arbic et al. 2009, indicative of our results in the topic of Global modeling of past and present barotropic tides

Global modeling of past and present barotropic tides

Learn More
Image from a paper indicative of Interdisciplinary Earth Science Projects

Interdisciplinary Earth Science Projects

Other Projects

Opportunities

Paige Martin giving her poster at Ocean Sciences meeting

Paige Martin giving her poster at Ocean Sciences meeting

Students interested in joining our group should have strong skills in mathematics, physics, and computer programming. Postdocs interested in joining our group should have training in physical oceanography or related fields such as atmospheric science, physics, mathematics, fluid dynamics, or computer science.