HEAD OF DEPARTMENT:
The Physical and Technological Oceanography Department focuses on the study of the physical properties of the ocean, its behavior and role in the climate of the Earth using the principle of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. It is the largest Spanish physical oceanography department and that with the most extensive scientific production. Its interests focus on the observation (both in situ and remote sensing) and analysis of the ocean physical environment at a broad range of spatio-temporal scales. Its members include physicists, engineers, and oceanographers with complementary skills that work together to further our understanding of the ocean dynamics by combining experimental, numerical and theoretical approaches. The group members are especially committed at mentoring students and offering specialized courses, participating in numerous public outreach activities, and steering citizen science initiatives.
In the framework of the ICM challenges and research lines, researchers of the Physical and Technological Oceanography Department lead two groups: Physical and Technological Oceanography and Environmental and Sustainability Participatory Information Systems, that work on a range of topics including:
- Large-scale ocean circulation
- Climate change
- Mesoscale and small-scale ocean processes
- Advanced oceanographic data processing methods
- Ocean modelling and data assimilation
- New technologies for oceanic, coastal, and sea ice observations
- Citizen science
Research lines
- Global climate patterns and change
- Impact of climate change on the coast and marine basins
- Ocean dynamics and marine ecosystems
- Understanding marine dynamics and episodic perturbations