What is GFD?

Geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD) is an interdisciplinary branch of science which applies the unifying principles of physics and the language of applied mathematics to the study of natural environmental phenomena in areas as diverse as the oceans, the atmospheres of the Earth and other planets, the elastic and fluid portions of planetary interiors, and the sun and galaxies.

For more information see:

• Historical GFD Papers on Geoff Vallis's website

Research at GFDI

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (GFDI) is an active research center in which students, post doctoral research associates, and faculty from participating academic departments apply theoretical techniques along with laboratory and numerical models to the study of problems in geophysical fluid dynamics. Graduate students pursuing the Ph.D. degree in geophysical fluid dynamics or related disciplines may use the facilities and services of the institute in their thesis research.

Below are some examples of current projects at the GFDI:

• Fluid Dynamics in Caves and the Growth of Speleotherms
• Ocean-Atmosphere Exchanges
• Modeling Reactive Transport in Groundwater Flow
• Ocean Mixing in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current
• The formation of Multiple Zonal Jets in Circumpolar Planetary Flows