Fox-Kemper Research Group: Ocean Modeling and Theory

Ocean Modeling and Theory

from global to universal

We study the physics of the ocean and how the ocean fits into the Earth's climate system, using models that range from the global scale to focused process models that apply universally. We seek mathematically interesting problems with practical uses.

The products we produce are parameterizations, diagnostics, and accurate toy models also known as emulators. These are developed by examining intricate processes using both high-cost computational models and remote or autonomous observations. We seek simple but accurate approximations and crucial diagnoses. The ultimate objectives vary, sometimes aiming to enhance community models, other times to facilitate comprehension through emulators or parameterizations that replicate the complexities of the actual system.

Our publications, group members, group alums, and curricula vitae are regularly updated to reflect recent work, including preprints and materials presented at conferences.

Baylor also teaches classes in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, and he is the STEM faculty director of the Equitable Climate Futures initiative. He is an elected fellow of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES), an affiliated faculty member of the Brown Theoretical Physics Center, the Brown Center for Fluid Mechanics, and the Initiative for Sustainable Energy, and supports the SciToons program. Our group works closely with the Polar Oceanography Group and the 3CRS hub. Baylor leads the Rhode Island Data Discovery Center and is a PI on the SIMCoast project. Baylor was a coordinating lead author of the Ocean, Cryosphere, and Sea Level Change chapter of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Physical Science Basis (WGI) Report. Baylor is a co-chair of the Earth System Modelling and Observations Core Project of the World Climate Research Program, and was previously a co-chair of the CLIVAR Ocean Model Development Panel and the USCLIVAR Process Studies and Model Improvement Panel. Baylor is an associate editor of Science Advances and was an editor of the Journal of Physical Oceanography from 2017 to 2023. Baylor has taught at some summer schools (XMOD, GODAE Ocean View, JPL and WHOI GFD). Baylor used to teach at the University of Colorado and CIRES. Here are examples of a Provost Lecture Series lecture, a blackboard lecture, a lecture, a family weekend panel on undergraduate research, a research talk, and a film introduction given by Baylor. (Many more lectures are at Baylor's YouTube channel.) The maintenance and design of this website is inspired by this template.

Baylor Fox-Kemper