David S. Trossman

Senior Research Scientist – Sea Level

National Oceanography Centre – Liverpool

email: david.s.trossman at gmail dot com

Introduction

I'm a computational ocean (data) scientist who generally develops methods to make the most of the imperfect numerical models/theories and the sparse/aliased observations we have of the ocean. My application focus has included understanding ocean/climate dynamics and improving existing or exploring alternative observational methods to monitor basic ocean state variables. I have approached these applications by developing/running experiments with ocean/climate models, estimating data products for assimilation by forecasting systems, probing how existing/hypothetical data could be used in ocean state estimation, and investigating how to enhance ocean observing systems. I generally choose my research topics by thinking of an application that allows me to both learn something new about the earth system and add a new computational/statistical method to my tool-belt. In my spare time, I compose and release music, sometimes for outreach but most of the time just as an outlet.

Research

Summary:

• Computational physical oceanography (using models to identify how to improve ocean state estimates as well as parameterize and understand interactions at oceanic boundaries)

• Ocean data science (combining information from theories, numerical/empirical models, and observations to estimate environmental conditions as well as assess and design observing systems)

The primary research questions I focus on include:

• What are the roles of the ocean circulation and mixing in determining ocean and climate variability and change?

• How can we best reconstruct and understand ocean properties of the recent past using a combination of available observations and models?

• How can we improve future forecasts through the assimilation of existing or hypothetical observational platforms and/or development of physically-motivated model parameterizations? 

A few example findings from my research include:

• Form drag-induced dissipation dominates lee wave drag-induced dissipation in the ocean and can enhance near-bottom velocities via topographic deflection

• Ocean circulation changes with increasing carbon dioxide buffer both surface temperature changes and ocean deoxygenation

• Variables you can invert from magnetic field data can help monitor ocean heat content and ocean circulation variability

See my publications for more detail

Education

• • University of Washington-Seattle: PhD in physical oceanography, 2011

  • University of Chicago: M.A. in public policy, 2008

  • Washington University in St. Louis: B.A in mathematics and physics, 2004; M.A. in physics, 2005

My career path ever since these degrees is described here

My full CV can be found here