Abstract
With the proliferation of UAVs and small-satellites, miniaturization of electronics, and cheap and readily-available commercial satellite imagery, there is more data than ever about processes occurring in the atmosphere, on land, and in the ocean. Ocean remote sensing poses some unique technical challenges due to the fact that electro-magnetic signatures are a secondary result of hydrodynamics driven by environmental forcing, and that the complex interaction between phenomena is poorly understood. Therefore, improving our understanding of the world’s oceans has major impact on science and policy of climate change, weather forecasting, tsunami detection, international law, maritime domain awareness, and national security. Our work at Virginia Tech is focused on basic phenomenology, mathematical modeling, and large-scale computational simulations to solve some of these problems. In this talk, I will give an overview on how ocean currents and waves induce electromagnetic fields or scatter incident radiation, followed by a discussion of computational modeling of magneto-hydrodynamics of incompressible high Reynolds-number thermal-haline stratified flows. Finally, a few examples will be presented and discussed including large-scale internal-gravity waves, fresh-water lenses created by rainfall, and surface-ship wakes.

Bio
Eric Paterson is the Rolls-Royce Commonwealth Professor and Department Head of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (AOE) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Dr. Paterson teaches and performs research in the broad field of fluid mechanics, however, he is a life-long CFD researcher and has published in numerous application areas, including hydrodynamics and hydroacoustics, wind and wave renewable energy, canine olfaction, explosives detection, cardio-vascular hemodynamics, and computational algorithms. Previous to Virginia Tech, he held positions at The Pennsylvania State University, The University of Iowa, Harris Corporation - Government Aerospace Systems Division, and Clifton Precision - Instruments and Life Support Division. He earned his B.S. and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Iowa. In addition to his service to both SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) and AIAA, he is currently a member of the Rolls-Royce Environmental Advisory Board, the Program Committee for National Institute of Aerospace, and is Secretary of ADCA - Aerospace Department Chairs Association. He is a certified private pilot, motorcycle enthusiast, and plays trumpet in several Blacksburg-area bands.

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