Langmuir circulation: resonance, symmetry and pattern selection

Global change computations of the ocean must capture a spectrum of features ranging from those visible from space, to those visible to mariners. But not even the world’s fastest supercomputers can resolve all features, meaning that those of fundamental importance but not resolved must be modelled. Prominent in this category are long wind-aligned rolls known as Langmuir circulation that grow to the size of sports stadiums and enhance mixing in the upper ocean. This research is concerned with the mathematical description of Langmuir circulation and with how, when they resonate nonlinearly, they grow in size and deepen the mixed layer.