Research Interests
I use theory, observations, and analytical and numerical models to pursue research in mesoscale to large scale geophysical fluid dynamics, especially ocean dynamics and climate dynamics. See the publications below for specific examples. Most recently I've started working on mesoscale atmospheric turbulence.

I'm interested in theory insofar as it makes predictions that can be observed. The excuse "but this is highly idealized so we cannot observe this in nature" makes the theory, or idealized model results, rather uninteresting to me.

Some questions I'm interested in are:

·         what aspects of two-dimensional turbulence are present in the real ocean and the atmosphere?

·         what drives interannual and longer timescale climate variability?

·         what data analysis tools are best used to reveal mechanisms of variability?

I've used analytical techniques to address the generality of the inverse energy cascade. I'm especially interested in using satellite altimeter data to see whether the upper ocean behaves like a 2D turbulent flow. See Scott and Wang 2005 below for results from this effort.

Stochastic climate models can be particularly helpful in gaining an understanding of how the upper ocean responds to atmospheric forcing. Simple stochastic models can be solved analytically (Barsugli and Battisti, 1998; Saravanan and McWilliams 1998; Bretherton and Battisti, 2000; Scott 2002a,b) and are useful for revealing novel mechanisms and also for making sense of data analysis tools. It is also part of my research goal to clarify what data analysis techniques are really telling us.

Currently Funded Research Projects
CMG: Advancement of Parameterization of Eddy-Topography Effects in Ocean Circulation Models

Quantifying the Contribution of Ocean Dynamics to SST Anomaly Formation

Numerical Modeling of the Climate System: Comparison of Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly Generation Mechanisms With Observed Data

Quantifying the Oceanic Kinetic Energy Cascade with Altimeter Data and Ocean Circulation Models

Postgrad Student opportunities
As of Dec, 2008: Ph.D. students based at NOCS are sought to help explain the results found by Scott, R. B. et al. (2008): Zonal versus meridional velocity variance in satellite observations and realistic and idealized ocean circulation models, Ocean Modelling, Volume 23, Issues 3-4, 2008, Pages 102-112. More information is available here .

Postdoc opportunities
As of August 11, 2008: Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in ocean dynamics research at The University of Texas, Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), a member of the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Rob Scott (rscott@ig.utexas.edu), and his recent collaborators. Applicants are welcome to contact Rob Scott via email prior to application to discuss the project. The initial appointment will be for one year, subject to renewal based upon funding and satisfactory performance. Starting annual salary will be $52,450.00. Applications will be considered until the position is filled, and the start date is as soon as possible. Candidates with proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision will be given priority. Please send CV, reprints of most relevant publications, and contact information of two references via email to rscott@ig.utexas.edu (acceptable formats: MS Word, Postscript or PDF).

Old Publications
R.B. Scott (1999): Ph.D. Thesis. See Table 4.2 on p.78 for the wind power input to the geostrophic flow and quantitative error estimates due to geoid slope errors, estimated from the full error covariance matrix of the JGM-3 gravity model, and the time mean NCEP wind stress field.

 

P Before printing, think about the environment

 

Recent Publications

Scott, R.B. and Y. Xu (2008): An update on the wind power input to the surface geostrophic flow of the World Ocean , Deep Sea Research I, in press

Bo Qiu and R.B. Scott and S. Chen (2008): Length Scales of Eddy Generation and Nonlinear Evolution of the Seasonally-modulated South Pacific Subtropical Countercurrent, J. Phys. Oceanogr., Vol. 38, Issue 7, pp. 1515--1528.

Scott, R. B., B.K. Arbic, C.L. Holland, B. Qiu, A. Sen (2008): Zonal versus meridional velocity variance in satellite observations and realistic and idealized ocean circulation models, Ocean Modelling, Volume 23, Issues 3-4, 2008, Pages 102-112.

A. Sen, R.B. Scott and B.K. Arbic (2008): Global energy dissipation rate of deep-ocean low-frequency flows by quadratic bottom boundary layer drag: Computations from current-meter data, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 35, Article Number: L09606.

Arbic, B.K., and R.B. Scott (2008): On Quadratic Bottom Drag, Geostrophic Turbulence, and Oceanic Mesoscale Eddies, J. Phys. Oceanogr., Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Pages: 84-103

Arbic, B.K., Glenn R. Flierl, and R.B. Scott (2007): Cascade inequalities for forced-dissipatived geostrophic turbulence, J. Phys. Oceanogr., Vol. 37, Issue 6, pp. 1470 -- 1487.

Scott, R. B. and B.K. Arbic (2007): Spectral energy fuxes in geostrophic turbulence: implications for ocean energetics, J. Phys. Oceanogr., Vol. 37, Issue 3, pp. 673--688.

Merryfield, W.J. and R.B. Scott (2007) : Bathymetric influence on mean currents in two high-resolution near-global ocean models, Ocean Modelling, Vol. 16, Issues 1-2, pp. 76-94.

Holland, C.L. and Robert B. Scott and Soon-Il An and Frederick W. Taylor (2007): Propagating decadal sea surface temperature signal identified in modern proxy records of the tropical Pacific, Clim. Dyn., DOI 10.1007/s00382-006-0174-0, Vol. 28, pp. 163--179.

Less recent Publications

Scott, R.B. and F. Wang (2005): Direct evidence of an oceanic inverse kinetic energy cascade from satellite altimetry J. Phys. Oceanogr., Vol. 35, Issue 9, pp. 1650–1666

Wang, F. and R.B. Scott (2005): On the prediction of linear stochastic systems with a low-order model, Tellus, Volume 57, pp. 12-20.

Scott, R.B. and B. Qiu (2003): Predictability of SST in a stochastic climate model and its application to the Kuroshio Extension region, J. Clim., Volume 16, Issue 2, pp. 312-322.

Scott, R.B. (2003): Predictability of SST in an idealized, one-dimensional, coupled-atmosphere-ocean climate model with stochastic forcing and advection, J. Clim., Volume 16, Issue 2, pp. 323-335

Scott, R.B. and A.J. Willmott (2002): Steady-state frictional geostrophic circulation in a one-layer ocean model with thermodynamics and reference to western boundary layer mixing and meridional heat transport, Dyn. Atmos. Oceans, Volume 35, Issue 4, pp. 389-419.

Scott, R.B. (2001): Evolution of energy and enstrophy containing scales in decaying, two- dimensional turbulence with friction, Phys. Fluids, Volume 13, pp. 2739-2742.

Scott, R.B. (1999): Mechanical energy flux to the surface geostrophic flow using TOPEX/ Poseidon data, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Volume 24, Issue 4, pp. 399-402.

Scott, R.B. and D.N. Straub (1998): Small Viscosity Behavior of a Homogeneous, Quasi- geostrophic, Ocean Circulation Model, J. Mar. Res., Volume 56, pp. 1225-1258.

Rob's UTIG contributions (Publications)