David S. Trossman
Associate Research Scientist
University of Maryland-College Park
Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center
Affiliate of NOAA STAR/NESDIS LSA
Adjunct Professor at Louisiana State University
email: david.s.trossman at noaa dot gov
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8222-7214
Introduction
I'm an ocean 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. Recently, my focus has been on improving existing or exploring alternative observational methods to monitor basic ocean state variables. I do this by both developing data products and investigating how to enhance ocean observing systems. In the past, I have: 1) studied the interactions between the ocean and other components of the Earth system by developing numerical models and running experiments and 2) advanced the reconstruction of the ocean’s historical conditions by understanding the information provided by various observing systems about difficult-to-observe quantities of interest. In my spare time, I compose and release music, sometimes for outreach but most of the time just as an outlet.
Research
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)
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
Current/Pending Procured Funding
E Hugo Berbery (CISESS lead), Paige Lavin (Primary lead), Deirdre Byrne (NOAA lead), David Trossman (CI scientist): CISESS: Further Development of New Methods for Determining Upper Ocean Heat Content. NOAA NESDIS ORS (2022-2025); this is funding myself
David Trossman (PI), Lidia Cucurull (NOAA lead): CISESS: A framework for observing system simulation experiments under future conditions. NOAA QOSAP (2024-2025); this is funding myself
David Trossman (PI), Nathalie Zilberman (Co-I), Helen Pillar (Co-I): Collaborative Research: Using Models and Historical Data to Guide Effective Monitoring and Enhance Understanding of Deep Ocean Oxygen Variability; NSF Chemical Oceanography #: 2242741 (2023-2026); this is funding Nemi Abomaye-Nimenibo at Louisiana State University's Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences
David Trossman (PI), Paige Lavin (Co-I): From the Shelves to the Deep: Satellite-Derived Profiles for Operational Ocean Heat Content Applications in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. NASA OSTST (this is funding myself + full-time postdoc at the University of Maryland-College Park, 07/2025-06/2029)